After 1,050 cars to pass through Friday night’s checkpoint at East Cotati Ave. and Santero Way with just one arrest and one citation, police say residents are getting the message.
Rohnert Park Police set up their latest DUI checkpoint over Labor Day weekend, and its results raised an interesting question: Is the checkpoint a bust if it yields just one arrest, or has it successfully deterred residents from drinking and driving?
Police Sgt. Aaron Johnson said 1,050 cars passed through the checkpoint on eastbound East Cotati Ave. at Santero Way between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Friday night. Of those, 956 drivers were screened for signs of DUI and to have their licenses checked. Of those, 20 drivers were sent to a nearby parking area for further evaluation, Johnson said.
Police arrested a Cotati man on suspicion of driving under the influence, and cited another for driving on a suspended license. One vehicle was towed from the scene.
“We saw more taxi cabs come through the checkpoint than we have in the past,” Johnson said. “It is nice to see, and hopefully drivers are getting the message.”
Johnson said more than 21 local residents have been injured in DUI-related incidents in the past three years.
Funding for the checkpoint was provided to Rohnert Park DPS by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies.
Source: rohnertpark-cotati.patch
You know this could also send another message.
You do not have a right to unlawful search.
It also says that the instances of DUI are VERY SMALL in this location. Just check out the per capita numbers of drivers in South Carolina drinking and driving.
Personally I feel the check points are necessary. My sister was killed by a drunk driver and people of SC are so stupid they need laws to prevent them from texting and cell phone use while driving.
Although South Carolina does protect your 2nd Amendment rights. As well as refuses Obamacare.
Also looks like a huge waste of TAX PAYER’s MONEY.