Some Fresno drivers aren’t getting the message about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Less than two weeks after Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp declared a local DUI “epidemic,” Fresno police arrested 11 drivers for driving under the influence at a West Shaw Avenue and West Shaw Lane checkpoint Saturday night into Sunday morning.

In addition, 39 people were cited for driving an unlicensed vehicle or driving with a suspended/revoked license. About 500 vehicles were stopped at the northwest Fresno checkpoint.

Fresno PD’s next DUI enforcement action will be a saturation patrol on Friday, Nov. 16, police officials said.

Through Oct. 29, the DA’s Office said that it had filed 3,556 misdemeanor DUI cases and 232 felony DUI cases in 2024.

“Those numbers are shocking. They are appalling because every one of those drivers had a choice,” Smittcamp said. “If you have a conviction for DUI, either felony or misdemeanor, and you choose to do that behavior again, you can and will be prosecuted for murder should you engage in that behavior again and someone is killed.”