Six motorists were arrested over suspicion of drunk driving in San Diego near the Gaslamp area of Downtown on Saint Patrick’s Day using DUI checkpoints. Officers maintained a checkpoint there as well as in many other locations throughout the city. While St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most common times for people to be out enjoying themselves, drunk driving accidents can happen at any time. Police officers often review data to determine the weekends and days when drunk driving is most common in order to establish DUI checkpoints like these to catch drunk drivers and to deter others from getting behind the wheel of a car while under the influence.

The checkpoint was open from 11 PM Friday until 3 AM Saturday near G street where a shamrock block party was held. Nearly 17,00 vehicles moved through the checkpoints with a total of 18 individuals detained that led to six arrests. Sherriff’s officials in San Diego also announced 8 other DUI related arrests Saturday as a result of a checkpoint in Encinitas. Nearly 1000 vehicles were screened at that checkpoint set up on South Coast Highway 101’s 1800 block. The purpose of this checkpoint was to identify unlicensed or impaired drivers and remove them from the roadway in addition to serving as a deterrent for other drivers. In addition to the arrests that occurred in these locations, 11 citations were issued for:

The purpose of this checkpoint was to identify unlicensed or impaired drivers and remove them from the roadway in addition to serving as a deterrent for other drivers. In addition to the arrests that occurred in these locations, 11 citations were issued for:
• Six violations for unlicensed drivers
• Three violations for driving with a suspended driver’s license.
• One violation for open container.
• Two violations for no insurance.
• One violation for driving out of the perimeters of a provisional driver’s license.

Chula Vista Police also had their own DUI checkpoint and El Cajon police had a saturation patrol operation against drunk driving. Unfortunately, drunk driving can lead to catastrophic vehicle accidents that leave the victims coping with significant repercussions for many years to come.