According to a press release from the "Avoid the Eight" DUI taskforce, the checkpoint on Friday night was "a great success." Police say 550 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and were screened. Officers handed out DUI educational material to every car that went through the checkpoint and performed only three sobriety tests on motorists.
The number of DUI arrests from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1 now number 102 in the eight counties. That’s ten more than the 92 who were arrested in the same 17-day time period last year. Last year there was one DUI-related death and this year there’ve been none, though the number is not final as the county coroner still needs to make a final report.
Authorities encourage citizens to call 911 if they encounter a driver that seems impaired. DUI checkpoints and regularly scheduled DUI saturation patrols are considered a proven strategy for removing intoxicated drivers from the road. The campaigns also help educate the public about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DUI checkpoints save about $6 for every $1 spent.