The Santa Monica Police Department will run a DUI checkpoint Friday, July 10, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location chosen based on data showing where impaired-driving crashes have occurred, according to the Santa Monica Lookout.

A first-time DUI in California carries an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties plus a suspended license, the department noted.

The checkpoint comes weeks after two SMPD officers were recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for a combined 46 DUI arrests. Officer Jonas Pandya was honored for 25 arrests and Officer Jacqueline Frausto Ramirez for 21. The recognitions came in June 2026.

The department's enforcement push has already produced results on the ground. During the week of June 14–20, officers arrested an impaired driver for assault with a deadly weapon after the suspect nearly struck a pedestrian in a beach parking lot on the 1600 block of Appian Way, according to SMPD's weekly Blue Notebook recap. The suspect fled but was quickly located.

Friday's checkpoint falls during what MADD calls the "100 Deadliest Days" on California roads, the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day when DUI incidents and teen traffic deaths spike. MADD California lead victim services specialist Rhonda Campbell told CBS News that teen deaths rise 15% during this summer window.

SMPD's DUI campaign is part of a broader summer traffic safety effort. The department launched boosted speeding patrols in late June 2026 after the City Council voted in 2024 to lower speed limits on more than 30 miles of city streets. The DUI checkpoint program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In March 2026, SMPD officers visited local bars and restaurants as part of a statewide "Know Your Limit" campaign, inviting patrons to take breathalyzer tests to gauge their blood alcohol content.

Residents who plan to drink Friday night can use ride-share services or designate a sober driver. The checkpoint location will not be announced in advance.