PALMDALE – A 67-year-old man who submitted to field sobriety and breathalyzer tests was the only driver arrested for drunken driving during a DUI Checkpoint in Palmdale Friday night and early Saturday morning.
David Bennett was arrested for misdemeanor driving under influence around 12:40 a.m. and booked at Palmdale Sheriff’s Station on $5,000 bail. He was released about nine hours later after posting bond.
The Palmdale DUI Checkpoint was located in the east bound lanes of Avenue S, between the intersections of 20th Street East and 25th Street East. The operation was conducted from 6:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday.
Other results from the Palmdale DUI Checkpoint are as follows:
* 1,890 vehicles driven through the checkpoint.
* 1,828 vehicles screened.
* Five vehicles impounded.
* No vehicles stored.
* Six DUI tests performed.
* Seven suspended license violations.
* Six unlicensed driver violations.
* Five other violations.
* Six unlicensed drivers’ vehicles released
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One DUI arrest at Lancaster Checkpoint
Deputies from Lancaster Sheriff’s Station also made one DUI arrest during a checkpoint within Lancaster city limits Friday night and early Saturday morning. The checkpoint location was eastbound Avenue K at Elm Avenue and was conducted between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.
The results of the Lancaster DUI checkpoint are as follows:
* 1,349 vehicles driven through the checkpoint.
* 319 drivers waived through because of traffic congestion.
* 1,030 drivers screened while in their vehicles.
* 26 citations/arrests for suspended, revoked, or no driver’s license.
* Six citations issued for miscellaneous traffic violations in and around the checkpoint.
* 12 drivers required to perform field sobriety tests.
* One arrest for DUI and associated B.A. (Alcohol)
* Three arrests for misdemeanor warrants.
* One arrest for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive.
* Two arrests for failure to have Ignition Interlock Device in vehicle.
* 17 vehicles stored or impounded.
Funding for the Lancaster checkpoint was provided through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Palmdale checkpoint was funded by a grant from the State of California’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) thru the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
Jim says
Despite finding that roadblocks did meet the Fourth Amendment’s definition of an unreasonable seizure, the Supreme Court found that, due to the threat a drunk driver imposes on other motorists, they were a necessary means of protection.
However, as several dissenting judges pointed out, the Constitution doesn’t make room for exceptions and, whether beneficial or not, DUI checkpoints are a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment, forcing drivers to participate in “suspicionless investigatory seizures.”
Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to leave it up to each state to determine whether law officers could use DUI checkpoints to apprehend suspected drunk drivers. Following this ruling, eleven states passed laws to prohibit roadblocks, while the remaining 39 states continued to allow them.
Jim says
Therefore, DUI checkpoints ARE unconstitutional but they made an exception for the security of the general populace. Slippery Slope?
“Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
– Ben Franklin
Ed Galindo says
11 Vehicles were subject to impounding in Palmdale, 6 of those were released to licensed drivers.
In Lancaster 17 vehicles were impounded.
No releases? Why not?
Not you says
Good question, my guess… They didn’t know anyone with a drivers license to get their vehicles for them.
dinky says
Went threw the palmdale one seen so many drivers trying to bypass it by going down 20th street
AVcares says
Great job!!
Keep up with those check points, the more the better…
if it takes just 1 drunk off the road that’s 1 or more lives possibly saved.
Jim says
Woo Hoo! Police State!!!
T-Bone says
Looks like Lancaster Won this Battle! Lol
J (@chron13) says
Aah yes America the land of checkpoints….SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS SLAVE!
Palmdale_Steve says
What part of the US Constitution is being violated by these DUI check points? Please enlighten us all on the basis of your screed, or is this just how you feel?
Here we go again.... says
J (@chron13
You more better school go!!!
Study the US Constitution before you speak…What a idiot!!
AVGirl says
You are more then welcome to give up your DL, and not submit to it at all.
soapbox journal says
I wonder if you would still say this if someone you loved was killed or injured by some one driving while impaired?
Carlene says
It would be nice if the blood alcohol levels of those arrested for DUI were given too.
sammy p says
good job cops!!!
you may have saved the life of some innocent driver.