Santa Barbara St. Patrick's Day DUI Checkpoint Nets 7 Arrests
Santa Barbara County - MARCH 18th, 2010
Lack of clarity on the concept "designated driver"
Here’s how the concept of a sober designated driver does not work: One person drinks quite a bit, the other drinks a bit less, then tries to drive through an Avoid the 12 sobriety checkpoint in Santa Barbara on Chapala St. last night. (March 17.)
She alerted officers to her impairment when she had trouble making a turn and controlling her speed before she entered the checkpoint.
Officers arrested the driver for DUI and the passenger for being drunk in public.
More than 1,000 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, which yielded six more DUI arrests, three citations for having open alcohol containers and three more for illegal drugs. Seven cars were towed.
“We saw a lot of taxicabs last night, showing that many people had exercised excellent judgment,” said Deputy Win Smith, Avoid the 12 coordinator.
“One woman rolled into the checkpoint after allegedly smoking marijuana,” Smith remarked.
“The smell alerted deputies, who thought there might be drugs in her vehicle. There were. She was arrested for possession of dangerous drugs, possession of a prescription drug without a prescription and possession of marijuana.”
Avoid the 12 is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Its next DUI enforcement event is set for Cinco de Mayo.
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