Police arrest six during sobriety checkpoint

The Costa Mesa Police Department and the California Highway Patrol conducted 16 DUI investigations and arrested 6 drivers during a weekend sobriety checkpoint.

The checkpoint began at 8 p.m. Friday and concluded at 2 a.m. Saturday. Officers checked eastbound drivers on West 19th Street at Pomona Avenue.

About 489 cars drove through the checkpoint and 242 cars were screened; 10 vehicles were towed and 15 citations were issued for violations that included open containers, drinking in vehicles, possession of marijuana and providing false information to a traffic officer, police said.

The checkpoint was intended to educate the public about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a valid license, police said.

Police will conduct another checkpoint on August 31 at northbound Newport Boulevard and Flower Street.

— Yvonne Villarreal