San Diego police arrested 12 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence during an East Village checkpoint late Saturday and early Sunday.
The department’s traffic division conducted the DUI/drivers license checkpoint at 1400 G. St. from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Chula Vista police assisted.
Officers arrested 11 motorists suspected of alcohol-related offenses, and one motorist suspected of being under the influence of drugs. They issued six citations and impounded 13 vehicles. Almost 2,500 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, more than a third of which officers screened.
Officials have scheduled another checkpoint or DUI saturation patrol for San Diego on July 4 at an undisclosed location. Local law enforcement often concentrates on cutting down on DUIs during holiday weekends when revelers crowd local beaches and hotspots.
Police say they choose checkpoints based on the locations with the greatest opportunity to deter drunk and drugged driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints provide the most effective results of any DUI enforcement strategy. They also yield cost savings – $6 for every $1 spent, officials say.
– Staff reports
