The South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be conducting a DUI/driver’s License checkpoint on July 12 from 8pm to 1:30am along Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Pioneer Trail.

The department is continuing its efforts at lowering the number of people killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes locally and through the county’s Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign with this DUI/driver’s License checkpoint.

Personnel will be checking drivers to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as heightening awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

“We have already had an impact on traffic collisions with our extra enforcement efforts over the 4th of July weekend. Crashes were down in the city from seven injury collisions last year during the same tire period to just three this past weekend,” Sgt. Shannon Laney said.

In 2008, law enforcement statewide reported that 7,801 people were injured or killed during the three summer months of June, July and August.

A major component of the checkpoints, beyond taking dangerous drivers off the road, is to increase awareness of the consequences of impaired driving and to encourage using sober designated drivers. A DUI checkpoint is a proven effective method for achieving this goal, according to officers.

By publicizing these enforcement and education efforts, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department believes motorists are deterred from drinking and driving.