PALMDALE – One motorist was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and 12 unlicensed drivers were arrested at a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint conducted in Palmdale this past weekend, authorities said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Palmdale Station conducted the checkpoint from 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 2 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, on Avenue S, east of 37th Street East, according to Deputy Brent Bunch.
The results of the checkpoint are as follows:
- 1446 vehicles traveled through the checkpoint.
- 1446 drivers were checked at the checkpoint.
- One DUI-alcohol suspect was arrested.
- 12 unlicensed drivers were arrested and sent to court.
- One vehicle was stored for one day.
- Nine vehicles were released per checkpoint release procedures.
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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Gustavo says
Well. the highest court in the land, U.S. Supreme Court, determined in 1990 that despite their “intrusion on individual liberties,” being stopped in a DUI checkpoint does not violate a person’s Fourth Amendment’s protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Generally, in California, law enforcement or the police must have probable cause to stop and question a person driving a motor vehicle. Probable cause basically means that the cop sees any of the following: (1) traffic violation, (2) defect in the vehicle that makes it unsafety, or (c) driving pattern that indicates the driver may be intoxicated or impaired to drive safely.
DUI sobriety checkpoints are an exception to the rule that police must have probable cause for a traffic stop. Courts have upheld the power of law enforcement to conduct systematic traffic stops at checkpoints to identify and deter driving under the influence.
BUT police have to comply with the law, too. Under both the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, there is no constitutional violations if the police adhere to the following eight specific guidelines:
1.supervising officers must make all operational decisions;
2.the criteria for stopping motorists must be neutral;
3.the checkpoint must be reasonably located;
4.adequate safety precautions must be taken;
5.the checkpoint’s time and duration should reflect “good judgment”;
6.the checkpoint must exhibit sufficient indicia of its official nature;
7.drivers should be detained a minimal amount of time; and
8.roadblocks should be publicly advertised in advance.
If the police do not comply with these procedures, you might have a leg to stand on.
The Sheriffs Deputies in Palmdale have done a pretty good job with these checkpoints. One less impaired driver off the road could make the difference in saving your life, the life of your son, daughter, wife, husband or mother. Would saving one of those lives be a waist of your tax dollar?
And If you don’t have a driver’s license for whatever reason, read the paper. The cops will tell you in advance they will be conducting these checkpoints. They won’t tell you where, but you will know the dates and times in advance, so figure it out or take your chances if you like to gamble. It really all boils down to choices we make, mostly of convenience. Not necessity. Don’t blame the police because they are doing their job. Take a look at yourself and the reason(s) you chose to drive on a Friday, Saturday night when you either didn’t have a license or could have had your friend or girl drive because you know you had one too many.
Derek Gonzalez says
These so called DUI “Checkpoints” are pure police state garbage that violates the 4th and 5th amendment as well as the right of traveling freely and unmolested by Nazi style “Papers please” controls under the fake premises to “keep us safe”.
We turned from innocent until proven guilty to guilty until proven slave.
These checkpoints are proven to virtually useless, ineffective and quite honest a waste of tax payer money for the alleged purpose they suppose to have. Yes once in a while you might get ONE real DUI person. But they checked as seen here 1446 drivers and only got ONE guy. That means they hen pecked, bothered and violated the constitutional rights of 1445 others while using about 20+ police officers for this charade. Police officers that actually could had been used to solve real crimes instead of this nonsense. These “DUI checkpoints” work great though to acclimate WE the SHEEPLE to think it’s normal in Land of the “free” to have uniformed goons barking orders at you.
Tim Scott says
Correct on all points.
PhuckAV says
Not to mention the DUI statistics tossed out BY M.A.D.D. and LE to justify these checkpoints are pure fabricated, exaggerated nonsense.
VXSGuy says
13 individuals is what keep these checkpoints going. If these 13 would have obeyed the law by not drinking and driving and the simple task of having a driver’s license…this one is a given. If you don’t have a license then don’t drive. ATA runs every 20 minutes. The check points will become useless if everyone just say OK… I want drink and drive and if I don’t have a license I want drive. Easy. 1446 and 13 was the best they could come up with. But I’ll support the effort as long as some decide to break simple laws. I’ve witnessed and suffered lives lost to drinking and driving both were doing their job and one was drinking and driving a promising career flushed and still serving time for his choice.