San Rafael police are planning another sobriety checkpoint Friday - less than two weeks after dozens of citizens appeared before the City Council to sound off on the controversial program. The checkpoint, which also screens for unlicensed drivers, is planned from 6:30 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Lincoln Avenue, police said.

"It's a higher-volume area based on our statistics for DUI and unlicensed driver violations, so we're going back to that spot," San Rafael police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said. "We try to move them around. We decided Lincoln Avenue would be a good location."

Some community members have called on the council to examine the fairness of drunken-driving checkpoints that screen for unlicensed drivers in the immigrant-heavy Canal neighborhood. Others have thrown their support behind the program, saying the laws should apply to everyone equally.

The flap arose after a June 13 checkpoint at East Francisco Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Opponents said they believe the checkpoint unfairly targeted illegal immigrants who lack driver's licenses. Friday's checkpoint, which was planned some time ago, is one of three that must be held before Sept. 30, the end of the grant cycle, Rohrbacher said. The checkpoints are funded by a $378,000 selective traffic enforcement grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety. The council is expected to consider seeking renewal of the grant later this year.

"I don't have any reason to believe we aren't on track to do this in the next couple of months," City Manager Ken Nordhoff said.
Renewal of the grant would appear as an agenda item, enabling the public to comment, Nordhoff said.

Opponents of the checkpoint have urged the council to hold a public hearing on the matter. Council members have not acquiesced, but officials said the police would be happy to meet with concerned citizens. At least one meeting is set, Rohrbacher said.

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