CARLSBAD, Calif.– The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Oceanside Area, will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) safety checkpoint on Friday, September 4, 2026, at an undisclosed location within the City of Carlsbad. Officers from the Carlsbad Police Department will also participate in the checkpoint operation.
“Far too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on our local roadways as a result of impaired driving,” said Captain Bradley Palmer, Commander of the CHP Oceanside Area. “Our goal is to ensure the safe passage of every motorist by identifying and removing impaired drivers from our roadways.”
DUI checkpoints are a proven tool used to deter impaired driving and complement existing patrol and enforcement efforts. The checkpoint will focus on identifying drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Traffic volume permitting, officers will screen vehicles passing through the checkpoint for signs of impairment. “Our objective is to make a meaningful impact on the community while sending a clear message to anyone considering driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: we are out in the community, we will find you, and we will take impaired drivers off the road,” Captain Palmer said. “This operation also provides an important opportunity to continue educating the public about the devastating and preventable consequences of impaired driving.”
This checkpoint carries special significance for the CHP Oceanside Area and honors the memory of two officers who made the ultimate sacrifice as a result of impaired drivers. On October 28, 2000, CHP Officer Sean Nava was struck and killed by an impaired driver while investigating a traffic collision on Interstate 5 in Carlsbad.
On August 12, 2001, CHP Officer Stephen Linen was struck and killed by an impaired driver while conducting an enforcement stop on Interstate 5 in Encinitas. “Impaired drivers pose a very real and serious threat to our communities, as evidenced by the ultimate sacrifice made by these two heroes,” Captain Palmer said. “Their sacrifice serves as a powerful reminder of why impaired-driving enforcement remains so important. We honor their memory by continuing the work to prevent another family from experiencing such a devastating loss.”
Funding for this checkpoint operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
