By Lookout Staff

December 17, 2013 -- Santa Monica Police will conduct a checkpoint Friday to identify and remove motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or without a valid driver’s license.

The checkpoint will be set up at an undisclosed location within the city limits to look for drivers displaying signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, said Lt. Jay Trisler.

“This is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes,” Trisler said.

DUI checkpoints are conducted “to identify offenders and remove them from the street, as well as bring awareness to our community of the dangers of impaired driving,” he added.

Motorists caught driving impaired will face jail time, have their licenses suspended and their insurance rates increased, police said. They also face fines, fees, DUI classes, court probation and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

“All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers,” Trisler said.

Over the past year, impaired drivers were involved in 89 collisions in Santa Monica that injured 35 people, police said.

Checkpoints have proven to be the most effective DUI enforcement strategy and save $6 for every $1 spent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Those who plan to drink should have a designated driver or call a taxi cab, police said.

Funding for the operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.