Drivers in Bakersfield can expect a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, as police step up enforcement aimed at reducing impaired driving crashes.
The Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Unit will conduct the checkpoint at an undisclosed location within city limits between 6:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. Officers will be watching for signs of alcohol and drug impairment and will also check drivers for proper licensing, with motorists expected to be delayed only momentarily.
Police said DUI checkpoints are intended to deter impaired driving and are used as a tool to reduce deaths and injuries in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes. Research cited by police shows crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by 20 percent when well-publicized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely.
BPD – DUI Checkpoint Announcement 11.05.26 (1)PDF previewPreview PDF
When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate drivers suspected of drug-impaired driving, including impairment from illegal narcotics, prescription drugs, marijuana and some over-the-counter medications.
Police said checkpoint locations are selected based on collision statistics and the frequency of DUI arrests, with safety considerations for both officers and the public.
Drivers arrested for DUI can face jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses that could exceed $10,000, police said.
Funding for the checkpoint is provided through a grant to the Bakersfield Police Department from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Police encouraged the public to call 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver.