According to the Orange County Register (1/21/09), the California Office of Traffic Safety granted the city of Costa Mesa $236,882 for DUI / Drunk Driving checkpoints. Also, the California Office of Traffic Safety has granted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department $711,207 for DUI / Drunk Driving checkpoints as well. While many people are adamently opposed to the concept of DUI / Drunk Driving checkpoints as being contrary to American principles, there is strong evidence to suggest that DUI / Drunk Driving checkpoints do have a deterrent effect in the areas where they are conducted and publicized. The legality of DUI / Drunk Driving checkpoints has been upheld by the US Supreme Court as well as the California Supreme Court. However, in California, DUI / Drunk Driving checkpoints have to meet certain criteria.

According to the Orange County Register, DUI / Drunk Driving arrests in Orange County, California, were down compared to last year’s New Year Holiday DUI / Drunk Driving enforcement. The California Highway Patrol cited 27 drivers from December 31st at 6:00 pm through January 2nd at 6:00 pm. There were no DUI / Drunk Driving fatalities reported in Orange County during that same period. Last year, the CHP cited 83 drivers for DUI / Drunk Driving during the New Year enforcement period. The decrease in DUI / Drunk Driving arrests for this year can be directly attributed to a strong police presence patrolling the roadways in Orange County, California.