DUI checkpoint set in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa police will be conducting one of two local DUI checkpoints tonight as part of a statewide crackdown on drunk drivers during the holidays.

From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. tonight, police will be stationed at Newport Boulevard and Flower Street, stopping drivers and checking to see if they’re impaired, have a valid license or are breaking other driving laws.

As part of a California Office of Traffic Safety grant, police agencies statewide will be mounting DUI checkpoints through Jan. 3. State officials plan for 300 checkpoints from today through the beginning of 2010.

Costa Mesa police will mount their second checkpoint of the campaign Dec. 29 at Santa Ana Avenue and 18th Street, from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Last year, 11,773 people died in crashes involving a driver with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher, police said. In California alone, there were 1,029 deaths.

— Joseph Serna