2 vehicles towed, 11 drivers cited at DUI checkpoint

A sobriety checkpoint in Costa Mesa turned up plenty of tickets, but no DUIs Tuesday night, police officials said.

Costa Mesa police set up a sobriety checkpoint at 19th Street and Pomona Avenue Tuesday night and screened 289 of 772 cars, or about every third car, according to a report released by police Wednesday.

Police found only two people worthy of a DUI investigation, and both were let go, the report said. Two vehicles were towed, and 11 drivers were issued citations for driving with a suspended license or no license at all. Officers issued three more tickets for minor offenses near the checkpoint.

The grant was funded by the California Office of the Traffic Safety. Checkpoints are often a reminder not to drink and drive, as opposed to saturation patrols, used to get drunk drivers off the road, police said.

— Joseph Serna