Officers from the Selma Police Department will be conducting DUI/drivers license checkpoints through Sept. 7. The department is partnering with thousands of other law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

The message the department is trying to send is that for the end of the summer, drunk driving won't be tolerated.

"If you drive drunk, we will be looking for you" said Selma Police Sgt. Frank Santillian. "If you're over the limit and we catch you, you will be arrested."

Drunk driving is one of America's deadliest crimes, he said, and the Selma PD will be conducting DUI/drivers license checkpoints on Sept. 4 and 5. The operation is targeting those who still don't heed the message to designate a sober driver before their first drink is taken, he said. Funding for the checkpoint is through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Selma Police Chief Myron Dyck said drunk driving "is not worth the risk."

"Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant," said Dyck. "Violators will face jail time, the loss of their driver's license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work and dozens of other expenses. So don't take the chance. Remember, if you are caught over the limit, you will be placed under arrest."

Dyck said that the highest percentage of people drink on the weekend, so the checkpoints are generally on Friday or Saturday. But he said his officers arrest people "every day of the week for DUIs."

The Selma Police Department is urging people to call 911 when drunk drivers are spotted.

"In addition to this checkpoint I've asked everyone in my department to focus additional efforts toward removing an impaired driver during the campaign period and everyday they are on patrol," Dyck said.

"Statewide, DUI deaths fell 9 percent to 1,029 in 2008. Credit for the drop in DUI deaths goes to law enforcement, state and local agencies, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other safety advocates," said Christopher Murphy, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. "In addition, the people of California have come together to address this deadly problem and are now seeing results. As positive as these figures are, though, we can never let up until we achieve our goal of zero deaths."