BALDWIN PARK — Police are planning a checkpoint Friday, authorities said.
The checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed time and place within the city, Baldwin Park police Officer Ted Espanto said in a written statement.
The purpose of the checkpoint, police said, is to remove impaired drivers from the road and educate the public about the consequences of drinking and driving.
Baldwin Park police last year became the target of community criticism last year from residents upset about vehicles being impounded from unlicensed but sober drivers. The outcry prompted the city to temporarily halt checkpoints and draft more lenient impound policies.
A new state law signed by the governor this year prevents police from impounding cars from unlicensed but sober motorists, provided the car can be picked up by a licensed driver with permission from the registered owner. But the law doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1.
Funding for this checkpoint is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety Administration through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.