DUI checkpoint Friday night | Napa Valley Register

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DUI checkpoint Friday night

Thursday, February 07, 2008

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By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

The Napa police are doing their part to get drunk drivers off the road Friday.

A DUI checkpoint is set for 6 p.m., Friday.

Although police are mum about the specific location of the checkpoint, they said it will be within the Napa City limits and in an area where there has been a high number of alcohol-related crashes.

Officers will look for unlicensed drivers and those driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Motorists approaching the checkpoint will see an informational sign stating there is a sobriety checkpoint ahead. Those who have not been drinking and have a valid driver’s license will only be detained for a few minutes.

That won’t be the case for those who have gotten behind the wheel drunk. They will be arrested and could be booked into the county jail.

“An important goal of the DUI checkpoints is to educate the public on the dangers of driving while intoxicated and convince them to not drink and drive in the first place,” Napa Police Sgt. Tom Pieper said.

Funding for the DUI checkpoint comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

14 comment(s)

hodari_d wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:45 AM:

" 98 convictions last month wasn't enough? Greedy bastards... "

DL wrote on Feb 6, 2008 10:33 AM:

" Won't the drunks just turn & go the other way after seeing the warning sign??
To hodari_d: Will you still think that after some drunk driver hurts/kills one of your family members?? I think NOT! Good work NPD!! "

AThought wrote on Feb 6, 2008 11:11 AM:

" DL- I agree, good work NPD. There are so many drunk drivers out there endangering themselves and others. It is good to try to keep them off the roads and let them get the consequences for driving drunk. 98 is a high number, and it should go down, but at least they caught all of those people! "

Margo wrote on Feb 7, 2008 6:52 AM:

" If they have enough staff/officers, they will go after those who turn around. I've seen it many, many times. I was almost run off the road by a drunk driver last year. Fortunately, he crashed before I did. He broke his arm and is still in jail. "

someguyinnapa wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:16 AM:

" They need to start earlier in the day on a Friday (like 4pm on 29 between at Salvador) that way they get the touristas that are DUI coming back to their hotels in Napa from Up Valley wine tasting.

Oh, I forgot; the DUI list is still predominately Napa County residents. We wouldn't want to scare away tourism now would we? "

Matt G wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:45 PM:

" I'm all for checkpoints; they ensure the safety of motorists, and deter the would-be drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel....however...

The last time I was stopped in Napa at a checkpoint was by the State Hospital, as I was ENTERING town...which is comparable to strip-searching a professional-pick-pocket BEFORE they enter the amusement park....

Setting up checkpoints for the traffic that is leaving the Wine Valley would seem to be more effective in my estimation. "

Dwayne wrote on Feb 7, 2008 7:20 PM:

" Thanks. I'll wait until Saturday to pull a drunk. What's wrong with this picture...??? "

kdbk wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:28 PM:

" It doesn't appear as though anyone is too concerned about the term "CHECKPOINT". Sure, why should we be? We're all getting quite used to it. It's almost as if we just expect it any more. How nice.

Let's hear some more from the intellectuals who are just positive that there is no slippery-slope issue here. Their words are so comforting. "

anotherguyinnapa wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:53 AM:

" I want to see the location of the checkpoint posted on here at 6pm! "

Stephanie L wrote on Feb 8, 2008 9:45 AM:

" I think that the check point is great. I feel for my daughters friend sam who's mother just lost her legs due to a drunk driver. One more off the streets is one less problem. If you follow the laws then you should have no worries. "

Napa_Paul wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:59 AM:

" Bravo..Napa PD needs to be higher profile and pro-active. I hope they have plenty of handcuffs and a long line of tow trucks ready to handle the vehicle impounds Friday ! More volunteers to pick up trash on HWY 29 on Saturday mornings too. "

dsty20 wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:17 PM:

" I am all for getting drunks off the road, however this should be called a hopefully we can tow your car checkpoint because I bet only 20% of cars towed are from a drunk driver "

dsty20 wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:19 PM:

" this should be a hopefully we can tow your car for the money checkpoint cause I will bet only 20% of the cars towed are from drunk drivers "

kdbk wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:11 PM:

" Oh, listen to the glee and enthusiasm of those who think CHECKPOINTS are a neat idea for a free society. Those 8th grade educations can truly be a detriment. Well, heck, didn't we learn about such authoritarian concepts even BEFORE 8th grade?

O.k. For those with trouble understanding such matters, here's a hint: THEY ALWAYS START WITH THE NOTION THAT IT'S IN OUR "BEST INTEREST". THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS STARTS. "THAT" being the ongoing erosion of civil rights in a society. Please read a little history once in a while people (there are countless examples)...some of you are scarry-ignorant.

p.s. Effective policing of our communities is vital. Support for the police and an ongoing effort to stop crime should be every citizen's concern. But things like photo-radar speed traps and stopping vehicles randomly on public streets could lead to very negative consequences at some point in the future.

"

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