With Easter almost upon us in Clark County, many Valley residents are enjoying a three (or even four) day weekend. That means increased traffic on the Strip, downtown, and other entertainment-focused areas in and around Las Vegas. Many of these recreational activities will involve alcohol, which of course increases the odds of people drinking and driving as well as the incidence of DUI-related motor vehicle accidents.

That’s why Metro Police will be erecting a DUI checkpoint this weekend in downtown Las Vegas. Officials say that the sobriety checkpoint will be set up in an area where there have been a large number of DUI arrests in the past. However, Metro Police have not released the precise location of the sobriety checkpoint.

The DUI checkpoint will operate from Saturday night at 7pm until Sunday morning at 3am. A DUI van will be deployed in the area, and it will be partially funded by the Nevada Department of Public safety through a Joining Forces Grant. The goal of the sobriety checkpoint will be to identify and detain people who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs before they can cause an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 7% of all motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. involve alcohol.

If you are driving around Clark County this holiday weekend, please be extra vigilant when watching for impaired drivers (even outside downtown Vegas, because people who are drinking and driving might try to avoid the DUI checkpoint area). And if you or a family member is ever hurt in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should contact a qualified DUI attorney as soon as possible.