LA PUENTE >> Sheriff’s officials are planning a checkpoint late Friday in La Puente, where the past two such checkpoints have resulted in the arrest of 111 people for driving without a license, as well as three for driving while intoxicated.
Deputies from the sheriff’s Industry Station are planning to screen motorists from 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location within La Puente, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
While the emphasis of the checkpoint is on finding DUI drivers and discouraging others from committing the crime, according to the statement, “Deputies will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily.”
The sheriff’s Industry Station provides law enforcement services to the cities of Industry and La Puente, as well as nearby unincorporated county areas including Hacienda Heights, Valinda, East Valinda and Bassett.
But the last two checkpoints held by the station have been in La Puente.
“Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety to officers and the public,” according to the sheriff’s department statement.
During a checkpoint held overnight Feb. 21 and 22, deputies arrested more than 70 people, officials announced. Two drivers were jailed on suspicion of DUI, and one person was accused of driving without a court-ordered ignition interlock device. But the vast majority of arrests, at 55, were for driving without licenses.
At another La Puente checkpoint held overnight Dec. 21 and 22, deputies also arrested more than 70 people. One of the arrests was for DUI, while 56 were for driving without a license.
Funding for the checkpoints is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.