Ceres Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 23, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday morning at an undisclosed location.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road, said Traffic Officer Freddie Ortiz.

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

Impaired driving is not exclusive to alcohol use, he said. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

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