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Costa Mesa is Orange County's entertainment and commerce hub: South Coast Plaza — the largest shopping center in California and fourth largest in the nation — draws roughly 24 million visitors annually; the OC Fair & Event Center runs a 23-day summer fair plus year-round events; and the SoBeCa (South Beach Costa) district is home to The LAB, The CAMP, and a thriving brewery scene including Bootlegger's and Barley Forge. The freeways that make Costa Mesa accessible — SR-55, I-405, and SR-73 — are also where the California Highway Patrol and Costa Mesa Police run DUI enforcement operations. Late nights at the breweries, events at the fairgrounds, and freeway traffic all contribute to DUI arrests. This page explains how enforcement works here, where your case is heard, and how to fight it.
How DUIs are policed in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa's DUI enforcement is organized and active. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety's 2023 Rankings, Costa Mesa ranked 9th out of 62 comparable cities (DRAFT — verify) for alcohol-involved collisions, with 84 victims injured or killed in such incidents. On DUI arrests specifically, Costa Mesa reported 791 arrests in 2023 (DRAFT — verify), placing it 62nd out of 62 reporting cities—a statistic that reflects the city's size and traffic volume rather than a low-enforcement picture. The Costa Mesa Police Department runs its own police force (130 sworn officers) and maintains a zero-tolerance DUI policy.
The Costa Mesa PD regularly conducts DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols funded by California Office of Traffic Safety grants, often on weekend nights along high-traffic corridors such as Newport Boulevard, Harbor Boulevard, and Bristol Street, sometimes in partnership with neighboring agencies and the CHP (DRAFT — verify frequency and locations). The stated goal is removing impaired drivers from the road.
On the freeway side, the California Highway Patrol handles DUI arrests on the freeways that serve Costa Mesa — including the SR-55, I-405, and SR-73 corridors (DRAFT — verify the serving CHP area office for each). Many drivers arrested on these freeways are then processed through the Costa Mesa Police Department or have their case filed at the West Justice Center.
Where a Costa Mesa DUI case is heard
Costa Mesa DUI cases (both misdemeanor and felony) are heard at the West Justice Center (formally the Stephen K. Tamura — West Justice Center) in Westminster. The courthouse is located at 8141 13th Street, Westminster, CA 92683 (DRAFT — verify). Misdemeanor DUI cases (the typical first and second offense) are arraigned, set, and tried here. Felony DUI cases (e.g., DUI causing injury or a fourth offense) begin at the West Justice Center for early proceedings but transfer to the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana for trial. All DUI prosecution at West is handled by the Orange County District Attorney, not a city attorney. Orange County is a full-prosecution county, and the DA handles all criminal cases countywide. For the critical 10-day DMV deadline after your arrest, see the DMV hearing page →
Where will my Costa Mesa DUI be heard?
Does Costa Mesa Police conduct DUI checkpoints?
How bad is DUI enforcement in Costa Mesa?
I was arrested on a freeway near Costa Mesa — which courthouse?
What's my 10-day deadline if I was arrested in Costa Mesa?
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Ron defends DUI cases across Southern California from his Irvine office — and works directly with you, not a call center.
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