To curb impaired driving, the Escondido Police Department conducted a DUI checkpoint on May 2, nabbing one unlucky driver for cruising under the influence of marijuana. The checkpoint, which operated between 6 p.m. and midnight at East Valley Parkway and Beven Drive, processed over 2,700 vehicles, with more than a thousand motorists getting a closer look by the boys in blue.

Besides the solitary stoner, the police checkpoint was a veritable carousel of driving don'ts: 21 citations were handed out for drivers without licenses, and one person was caught driving on a suspended license. According to the Escondido Police Department, the checkpoint was strategically placed in an area known for impaired driving collisions, reinforcing the department’s steadfast resolve to keep Escondido's streets free from the recklessness of inebriated drivers.

The checkpoint's effectiveness in fishing out a DUI offender from the river of evening traffic serves as a sober reminder of the vigilance that our law enforcement must maintain. It also offers a moment of pause to reflect on the decisions that lead someone to blur the lines of safety, to take a chance on fate with hands grasping a wheel under the fog of impairment.

Funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the checkpoints are part of a grander scheme to prevent tragedies on the road. The Escondido Police Department proudly announced the next DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint for June 1, signaling their unyielding commitment to the cause of road safety.

For those looking to keep up with the latest from Escondido's finest, the Police Department invites citizens to follow their social media updates @EscondidoPolice. And, if one wants to play the role of the anonymous sentinel, tips regarding suspicious neighborhood activities can be discreetly relayed to their "Anonymous Tip Line" at 760-743-TIPS (8477) or through their website.