SUNNYVALE –  The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety officers will conduct a DUI safety and sobriety checkpoint from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., Wednesday, November 22. The primary purpose of the checkpoint is public education.

Each year a countywide “Avoid the 13” safe-driving program is launched by police agencies in Santa Clara County. Numerous checkpoints will be established throughout the county, all with the intent of educating the public to the perils of driving while impaired.

“Driving under the influence remains a problem throughout the holidays,” said DPS Director Don Johnson. “Impaired driving is a crime and we will not tolerate this risk to our residents.”

The checkpoint provides an opportunity to locate drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and remove them from local roadways.  Each year, drivers who are under the influence cause a disproportionately high number of collisions, many of which result in injury or death.

This year, Sunnyvale will again operate its own checkpoint. Cars traveling northbound on Mathilda Avenue between Maude and San Aleso Avenues will be randomly stopped and checked. Officers will look at the safety of the vehicle and the operator’s license and state of sobriety.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.