The Seal Beach Police Department arrested four drunk drivers during a DUI checkpoint operation held Friday night, Feb. 22, and Saturday morning, Feb. 23.
Two of the drunk drivers were arrested as they passed through the checkpoint on the northbound side of Seal Beach Boulevard, located opposite police headquarters. Two others were caught by patrol officers who were sent looking for drunk drivers when officials determined there was little traffic passing through the checkpoint, according to Sgt. Ron Lavelle, public information officer for the SBPD.
Lavelle said that when there is little traffic going through a checkpoint, officers will be redeployed to go out on patrol. That’s what happened this past weekend.
Lavelle did not have an official count, but believed 1,200 cars passed through the weekend checkpoint. With traffic comparatively low on Seal Beach Buldvard, two officers were placed in patrol units and sent out to look for drunk drivers. They found two.
Lavelle said the department redistributed resources and that resulted in two DUI arrests that did not take place at the checkpoint.
Lavelle said that one car was towed as a result of a suspended license. He believed.
The DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint was scheduled to begin 6 p.m, Friday, Feb. 22, to 3 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 23. The police did not disclose the location of the DUI checkpoint when they announced it last week.
Lavelle said the checkpoint actually began at 8 p.m., Friday night, and wrapped up around 2 a.m.
According to the Seal Beach Police, research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.
When possible, specially trained officers were available to evaluate those motorists suspected of drug-impaired driving. Drivers caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can expect jail, license suspension, insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
In 2011, nearly 10,000 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. In California, this crime led to 774 deaths.
Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Lavelle said the checkpoint was part of a county-wide “Avoid” DUI enforcement grant.
