Seven people were arrested for suspicion of drunken driving overnight at three DUI checkpoints in San Diego County.
In Lemon Grove at a checkpoint near the 7900 block of Broadway, an arrest on suspicion of drunken driving was made by 11 sheriff's deputies who screened 505 vehicles between 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. today.
In Oceanside, five people were arrested between 9:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. today at a checkpoint in the 2100 block of South Coast Highway. Two other drivers at the Oceanside checkpoint were cited for being unlicensed.
One driver was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at a similar checkpoint in Poway at 12100 Poway Road, which ended at 3 a.m.
Nine citations were issued for suspended, revoked or no driver's license, and five vehicles were impounded.
Police said the purpose of DUI checkpoints is to remove impaired or unlicensed drivers from the roadway, as well as to educate the public on the dangers of drunken driving thereby increasing the safety of all drivers. Research shows crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted frequently.
