Bay Area drivers, beware: The Berkeley Police Department is laying down the law with a DUI checkpoint set for February 9, officials announced. Set to take place on Ashby Avenue near San Pablo Avenue, the checkpoint aims to curb the risk of impaired driving. According to the Berkeley Police Department, operations will run from 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

In an effort to stop potential mayhem on the streets, data determining the location of these checkpoints is pinpointed to areas prone to impaired driving-related crashes. Sergeant Dave Harston said, "Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk." He also noted, "Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety," in a statement obtained by Nixle.

It's not just booze that's blowing up the breathalyzers. Berkeley PD wants drivers to remember that impairment can come from legal substances too, like prescription meds, over-the-counter drugs, and even marijuana—legal to own but illegal to drive under the influence of. The stark cost of a first-time DUI conviction can have motorists coughing up an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, not to mention a yanked license.

Berkeley's latest traffic safety maneuver isn't just a local effort. This checkpoint's tab is picked up by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, which in turn is funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The crackdown comes with a clear message: keep it clean behind the wheel or pay a price that hits more than just the wallet.