Calabasas a Focus of DUI Checkpoints

Calabasas has about 15 DUI checkpoints in operation per year compared to 3 for Malibu and 2 for Agoura Hills.

All three areas are overseen by the Malibu/Los Hills Sheriff Station. The funds for each checkpoint are provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). Calabasas has about 23,000 residents, Agoura Hills has approximately 20,000, and Malibu has 16,000.

Traffic Officer Sgt. Phil Brooks told the Malibu Surfside News that funding cuts have meant recent checkpoints are not fully staffed. OTS provides about $12,000 in grant money for each checkpoint event. And additional $2000 would pay for four additional deputies for an eight-hour event. He did not say whether additional staffing would increase the number of DUI arrests at an event or whether more manpower would simply make traffic move faster through the checkpoint.

The most recent are checkpoint was held at Kanan Road and Hillrise Drive in Agoura Hills from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fri., July 9. The department released the following result information:

•Vehicles through checkpoint: 2282

•Drivers stopped: 1465

•DUI arrests: 3

•Other arrests: 2

•Driver’s license citations (for unlicensed or suspended driver’s license): 20

•Marijuana citations: 1

•Vehicle impounds (for unlicensed or suspended driver’s license): 11