The Santa Rosa Police Department is scheduled to conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoint on Friday, April 17, 2026. The operation will run from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the city.

Department officials said checkpoint locations are selected based on data regarding impaired driving-related crashes. The stated primary objective of the enforcement is to promote public safety by removing suspected impaired drivers from the roadway.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” the department said in a statement. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”

Police noted that impairment is not limited to alcohol consumption. Certain prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can interfere with a person’s ability to drive. Additionally, while medicinal and recreational marijuana use is legal in California, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal.

Drivers cited for a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, along with a suspended driver’s license.

Funding for the checkpoint is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.