Costa Mesa police to set up weekend DUI checkpoint

The Costa Mesa Police Department has scheduled a DUI/license checkpoint between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Friday to Saturday on Newport Boulevard just south of 19th Street.

The department’s goal in setting up the checkpoint is to educate the public about the dangers of driving while intoxicated and/or without a valid driver’s license, police said.

Last year, 1,074 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Costa Mesa. It is the goal of the city to reduce that number this year, said Sgt. Rich Allum.

Recent statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving show that DUI-related crashes are the nation’s most frequently committed crime.

— Kelly Strodl