Santa Monica police will stop drivers at a sobriety checkpoint Friday, Sept. 4, as the Labor Day weekend begins.
The checkpoint runs from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location chosen for its history of alcohol- or drug-related crashes, the department announced. Officers will check for signs of impairment and verify driver's licenses. Anyone showing possible signs of impairment may be directed to a secondary screening area.
SMPD Lt. Richard Lewis said the advance notice is part of the strategy. "Research shows that accidents involving impaired drivers can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized, enforcement checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely," Lewis said in a statement reported by the Santa Monica Sun.
The checkpoint is not limited to alcohol. Police said drivers can be arrested for DUI if prescription medication, over-the-counter drugs or marijuana impairs their ability to operate a vehicle, even if the substance was legally obtained.
What a DUI conviction costs
A first-time DUI conviction can run about $13,500 when fines, fees, insurance increases and other expenses are added up, according to SMPD. That estimate, which the department and LAPD have cited in multiple 2026 checkpoint announcements, also comes with the possibility of a suspended license.
Recent enforcement
The checkpoint is the latest in a series of similar operations this year. SMPD ran the same 6 p.m.-to-2 a.m. format on June 10 and again on July 10, each at an undisclosed location.
Officers have made dozens of DUI arrests since June, the department said. In one incident during the week of June 14, officers at the 1600 block of Appian Way observed a suspect nearly strike someone with a vehicle in a beach parking lot, according to the department's Blue Notebook recap. The suspect fled, was located quickly and was arrested after officers determined impairment.
SMPD urges anyone who plans to drink or use impairing substances to arrange a sober ride through a rideshare service, taxi or designated driver.
