Deputies in Flagler County have scheduled two DUI checkpoints for Friday, Dec. 19, the Sheriff's Office announced.
The checkpoints will be in place from 8 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the following locations: Palm Coast Parkway Northwest and Frontage Road, and along State Road 100 east of Old Kings Road.
The checkpoints are part of the agency's continued effort to curb traffic fatalities, injuries and crashes and to emphasize its commitment to make county roadways safe.
The use of the checkpoints is a change from saturation patrols that have been deployed in the past and is designed to emphasize to the public the importance of removing impaired drivers from county roadways, reducing the likelihood that an impaired driver will operate a vehicle and to educate the public on the dangers of driving under the influence.
The operation is being funded by a $100,000 grant recently received by the Sheriff's Office from the Florida Department of Transportation.
In 2013, the agency received $70,000 from the FDOT to fund a similar initiative aimed at taking intoxicated drivers off of county roadways.
Drivers are reminded that it is a crime to mix alcohol and/or drugs with driving a vehicle. Avoid the risk of becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident by being responsible and selecting a designated driver before you go out for the evening. If you are with a group of friends and you see one of them has been drinking, don’t let them get behind the wheel, take their keys and help make arrangements for them to get to where they may be going safely.
Motorists can help to remove impaired drivers from the roadways by calling 911 immediately any time they observe a vehicle they suspect may be operated by an impaired driver.