Motorists, drive sober and have your licenses ready. Vallejo police and California Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety and license checks Friday and Saturday.

The Vallejo checkpoint, which will be set up somewhere within that city’s limits, will take place Friday, Sgt. Michael Nichelini said. He said 29 percent of motor vehicle deaths involve an impaired driver, and that in a single year 102 people were killed in California because of an intoxicated driver.

“A DUI (driving under the influence) checkpoint is a proven effective method to lower these numbers,” Nichelini said.

Besides sobriety, motorists also will be checked to see they are carrying a valid driver’s license, he said.

“When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving,” he said.

He said the checkpoint activity is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

California Highway Patrol officers will be conducting a similar checkpoint between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday somewhere in unincorporated Solano County, Officer Christopher Parker said.

Depending on traffic conditions, he said, all vehicles going through the checkpoint will be stopped. Drivers who appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs will be arrested, he said.

“Those motorists without a valid driver’s license can expect to receive a citation and potentially have their vehicle impounded,” he said.

Funding for the CHP stop also has been provided through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as part of the Reducing Impaired Driving (RID) Grant, Parker said.

Nichelini said his department is urging the public to help prevent impaired driving.

“If you are planning a gathering or celebration with alcohol included, or if you are out on the town, plan ahead and designate a non-drinking, sober driver,” he said.

“A DUI and drug-impaired arrest can cost up to $10,000 or even more, including time in jail, the loss of your driver’s license and high insurance rates.”

In addition, those who see a motorist who appears to be impaired should call 9-1-1, he said.

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