By Jorge Casuso

April 25, 2025 -- Santa Monica police next Friday will hold a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location "based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes," police officials said.

The checkpoint -- which will take place between 6 p,m. and 2 a.m. -- will be held as the State cracks down on motorists driving under the influence.

Under California law, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content level (BAC) of .08 percent or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit.

One drink is based on 1.5 ounces of liquor (40 percent alcohol), 12 ounces of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or a 5 ounce glass of wine (12 percent alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01 percent for every 40 minutes between drinks.

State DUI laws also target driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), including marijuana and Prescription medications, according to the DMV.

"Police are deploying new roadside saliva testing devices to detect marijuana, opioids, and other drugs," according to the website?.

"Drivers found with a mix of alcohol and drugs in their system will face enhanced penalties, reflecting a zero-tolerance approach."

During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, a "dangerous" condition that "puts others on the road at risk."

Police also advise drivers to check the side effects of medications.

"Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or operating heavy machinery,” which includes cars, officials said.

A driver can be charged with a felony DUI when the driver causes an accident that kills the victim or causes bodily injury.

Funding for next Friday's checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article contained innacurate information posted on “DMVCalifornia.us” The website is a privately-owned blog and is NOT affiliated with government agencies or DMV. The information has been removed.