LANCASTER – An overnight driver’s license/sobriety checkpoint in Lancaster netted 28 arrests, including one for driving under the influence of alcohol, sheriff’s officials said.
The checkpoint at Avenue I near Date Avenue began at 6 p.m. Friday, May 1, and ended at 2 a.m. Saturday, May 2, according to Detective Michael Politano of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.
The results from the checkpoint are as follows:
* 976 vehicles traveled through the checkpoint.
* 976 drivers were checked at the checkpoint.
* One DUI – alcohol suspect arrested.
* 16 unlicensed drivers were arrested and sent to court.
* Eight suspended/revoked drivers were arrested and sent to court.
* Two suspects were arrested for warrants.
* Two vehicles were stored for one day.
* Eight vehicles were impounded for 30 days.
* 14 vehicles were released per checkpoint release procedures.
Lancaster checkpoint ends in police pursuit
According to Politano, there was a brief police pursuit at the end of the DUI/driver’s license checkpoint.
“Deputies were blocking eastbound traffic in order to remove traffic cones from the highway. A vehicle drove around the patrol vehicles and into oncoming traffic,” Politano stated.
“A short pursuit developed and the driver fled on foot. Deputies contained the area but the suspect was not located,” Politano added.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting additional DUI/driver’s license checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols throughout the year as part of an ongoing commitment to lowering deaths and injuries upon streets and highways.
Funding for these operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Tim Scott says
Our local Sheriffs hard at work. Have they been issued the hard hats with the built in lights for these fine mining expeditions yet?
Does anyone else wonder why cities the size of Lancaster and Palmdale contract for law enforcement instead of having their own police departments that would be at least nominally accountable to local oversight? I mean, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is one of the most notorious law enforcement agencies in the country, and it isn’t like the cities are getting their “services” particularly cheaply.
Donovan Novello says
For a DUI checkpoint, they didn’t take many drunks off the road, did they? I have to think that more drunks and more bad drivers would have been taken off the road by putting those officers on normal patrol… but then they couldn’t have seized (and later sold or collected fines and/or impound fees on) all those cars and collected fines and fees from those arrested as well. But of course, we understand that those officers wouldn’t have been on the streets on patrol if the checkpoint hadn’t been set up-they were collecting overtime thanks to special funds provided by our federal tax dollars.
don says
Great job. Seriously has anyone ever seen a checkpoint
Such as this in Bell air, Beverly hills, or Malibu?
Usually these tactics are used in areas known to be found below the mean average poverty level.
Personally I think the information stated about the funding for these campaigns is incorrect as its clearly coming directly from the fines paid by the arrested and penalized public. Not to mention the thousands of autos taken ( and resold) daily Taxed each time they are sold over and over…
In Ca. Fishing without a license and catching 8 fish will land you a fine larger than the cost of two acres of land in Wisconson with a pond of your own!!! With real fish !!!? Nice weather here though!!!
I support all law enforcement……
But let’s be helpful and kind to one another.
We can’t afford to have unsafe drivers on the road.
We need a poverty stricken hard working family man to be able to drive also.
Eva says
DUI checkpoints are employed all over the place. Malibu is one, along with West Hollywood, Santa Monica et al.
http://www.duiblock.com/dui_checkpoint_locations/california/los_angeles/
Drunk driving happens all over the place. Unlicensed driving might be more area specific. Since in this state anyone of age, and regardless of status, can get a driver license now – there’s no excuse, none, for driving without. I fully support taking unlicensed, uninsured drivers off the road. Thank you law enforcement.
h says
Good job