DUI Checkpoint on Thursday

Newport Beach police will set up a checkpoint Thursday to look for drunken drivers and invalid licenses.

The checkpoint will operate from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on northbound Dover Drive at 16th Street, according to a police press release.

The location was selected for its proximity to bars and restaurants, the release said.

The checkpoint will be clearly marked and vehicles will be selected to move through the check lanes on a predetermined basis to ensure objectivity and timeliness, the release said. Motorists will be greeted and given an informational brochure on “Driving Under The Influence,” prepared by the Newport Beach Police Department Traffic Division.

Although some arrests are typically made at sobriety checkpoints, the purpose is more about reminding drivers that it's a bad idea to drink before getting behind the wheel, the release said. Local police also conduct saturation DUI patrols on a regular basis. Anti-DUI programs are funded by a state grant, according to the release.

Officers also will check to make sure drivers have valid licenses and no outstanding warrants, and will check for other potential violations.