California traffic safety officials have declared 2010 as “The Year of the Checkpoint,” as an addition $8 million in funding will be provided for DUI checkpoints in California.

The $8 million in grant funding to 148 law enforcement agencies is up from $5 million in 2009.

There will be more than 2,500 sobriety checkpoints in 2010, up 47 percent from 2009.

“To my knowledge, California conducts more checkpoints than any other state,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher J. Murphy. “DUI checkpoints are time-tested and proven as the most effective DUI countermeasure and I’m gratified that we’re seeing the life-saving results.”

Since OTS and law enforcement started to increase emphasis and funding toward sobriety checkpoints in 2006, alcohol-related deaths have declined in California.

Also, statewide DUI arrests in 2008 were 214,811 — the highest total since 1993.

Source