DUI Checkpoint Tonight

There will be a DUI checkpoint tonight in Seal Beach at Pacific Coast Highway and First Street at the Long Beach border.

The checkpoint will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 3 a.m. as part of a series of grant-funded checkpoints to take place throughout the year.

Last weekend, DUI checkpoints and saturation police patrols around the county nabbed 211 people driving under the influence over three days.

The automobile club estimates that the cost of a first-time DUI arrest is roughly $12,162 or more in fines and fees.

In California the legal blood alcohol limit is .08. The Seal Beach Police Department is encouraging anyone who sees an impaired driver to immediately call 911.

The Automobile Club of Southern California offers these tips to prevent drunk driving:

• At social events, designate non-drinking drivers who can get everyone home safely.
• Call a friend or family member for a ride home if you have been drinking.
• Keep a cab company telephone number in your wallet so you can call for a ride home.
• As a party host, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drink alternatives and provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers.
• Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to drink.