SACRAMENTO-

The California Office of Traffic Safety says DUI checkpoints are designed to be more of a deterrent rather than a means of catching drunk drivers.

“Patrols catch drunks, checkpoints save lives,” said Chris Cochrane, Deputy Director of Communications for the Office of Traffic Safety referring to saturation patrols that usually catch more drunk drivers in the act.

The agency awards $70 million on traffic grants to local governments each year, much of it going to DUI checkpoints.  Local law enforcement can no longer fund them on their own.

Rather than keep the locations and times of checkpoints a secret, local law enforcement is encouraged to publicize them.  It doesn’t matter that driver’s using smart phone apps can avoid them, or that driver’s down the road make a u-turn when they see them, the word gets out that police are paying attention.

“They’re either wising up or they’re afraid, either one works just as long as they don’t drive drunk,” said Cochrane.

If done often enough and publicized well enough,  Cochrane says they have been shown reduce DUI related deaths in some areas by 20%. He also quotes a ratio of $6 dollars saved in accident, hospital and property damage costs for every $1 spent on the checkpoints.

Michael Malicki has certainly aware of the increased number of checkpoints in the run up to New Year’s Eve.

“If they’re going to be drinking tonight and driving, that’s kind of silly,” said Malicki.

“If I’m going to go somewhere and drink,  I’m going to get a cab…ilt’s not worth it,” added Malicki.

He was referring to thousands of dollars in costs associated with a drunk driving conviction which includes higher insurance rates, impound fees, losing your license, court costs and traffic school.

Those who will be on the road appreciate the checkpoints.  John Gonzales was headed to San Jose with his wife and kids on New Year’s Eve.

“I think it helps.  Anything helps as long as we have some kind of deterrent out there,” said Gonzales.