SPARKS — The Sparks Police Department will be joined by the Nevada Highway Patrol, the Reno Police Department, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, The Washoe County School District Police Department, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office for a DUI checkpoint that will take place Saturday evening.  All the officers working the event are being funded by a grant that was awarded to each agency by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. 

These types of checkpoints are not only meant to locate and remove impaired drivers from the road before they become involved in a traffic collision, but also are meant to educate the driving public about the dangers of impaired driving. All agencies involved are joining forces to make it a safer holiday season.

Although alcohol is the predominant intoxicant found when investigating impaired drivers, officers have noticed an increase in drivers impaired both by illegal and prescription drugs.  Officers would like to remind the driving public that many prescriptions have warnings about operating a motor vehicle after drivers use. Drivers will be arrested if you are found to be impaired by prescription medication while operating a motor vehicle.