A Slow Night At The Sobriety Checkpoint – December 8, 2012

A funnel of lights and cones sucked drivers into a vortex of police officers on H Street at Samoa Boulevard. Photos by KLH | Eye
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APD CONDUCTS SOBRIETY/DRIVERS LICENSE CHECKPOINT
The Arcata Police Department conducted a sobriety/drivers license checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 in the 500 block of H Street.
The checkpoint was operated from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., and 271 cars were screened.
In total, two drivers were cited for driving unlicensed and another driver was cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license. One driver was cited and released for an outstanding warrant and one driver was cited for having improperly seat belted children in the vehicle.
The checkpoint along with increased traffic enforcment, are part of the APD’s effort to reduce collisons and imrpove traffic safety during the holiday season.

Most of the drama, what little there was, took place in the first hour or so of the operation, though most stops were as routine and inconsequential as the ones shown here. A few people tried to drive right through, but were stopped. Oddly, two out of three drive-throughs had no violations. Another car stopped before the checkpoint so the driver and passenger could switch places. The first driver had a suspended license, and the second said she had a Texas driver’s license, but didn’t. Their Prius was parked and they walked home.