DUI, license checkpoint to be conducted by Elk Grove Police
While alcohol-related crash deaths have dropped sharply since the 1980s, they remain a leading cause of roadway fatalities.
Motorists passing through Old Town Elk Grove tonight may encounter flashing lights and a line of orange cones: the Elk Grove Police Department is staging a sobriety and driver’s-license checkpoint somewhere within city limits from 7 p.m. Friday until 3 a.m. Saturday.
Police officials say the operation serves a dual purpose—removing intoxicated or unlicensed drivers from the roadway and reminding everyone else of the risks. Officers will distribute pamphlets outlining California’s DUI laws and the potential criminal, financial and personal costs of impaired driving. The effort is paid for with a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Residents who spot a suspected drunk driver are urged to call the department’s non-emergency line at (916) 714-5115 or dial 911 in an emergency.
A stubborn national problem
While alcohol-related crash deaths have dropped sharply since the 1980s, they remain a leading cause of roadway fatalities. Preliminary data show 12,429 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes nationwide in 2023, accounting for roughly 30 percent of all traffic deaths. That total represents an eight-percent decline from 2022—but still works out to one life lost every 42 minutes.
The department did not disclose the precise checkpoint location, a common practice intended to maximize deterrence while still giving the public notice required by law.
