Spring Break
DUI crackdown nets dozens of arrests
CAITLIN BYRNES
Issue date: 3/20/09 Section: News
St. Patrick's Day festivities triggered a crackdown on DUIs by the Georgia State Patrol, in conjunction with the University Police and Athens-Clarke County police.
There were 63 arrests between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, out of more than 700 cars stopped. Of the arrests, 19 were University faculty or students.
The various checkpoints, which ran from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., were located in problem areas such as Lumpkin Street at Carlton Street, Lexington Road at the Ga. 10 Loop, and North Avenue
"The reason we did this across the nation is that the highway safety transportation board showed that 38 percent of fatalities on St. Patrick's Day are alcohol related," Sgt. Al Whitworth of the Georgia State Patrol said in a Thursday interview. "We decided to do a combined effort with Athens-Clarke County and the University of Georgia and we did a concentrated effort to target DUI drivers."
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety issued earlier this week a media release for police departments to increase vigilance during the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
However, University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said his department does checkpoints year round and looks for more than just DUIs.
"When we do safety road checks, [DUIs are] not our top priority," Williamson said.
He said the checkpoints, which are done four to six times a year, are in an effort to make the roads safe, not to give out citations.
"If they yield DUIs, then that's what they yield. Our goal is to make the Georgia roads safe. If we get out there and do not give out any citations, then that is successful because the roads are safe," Williamson said.
Williamson pointed out the various other crimes - such as seatbelt violations and driving without insurance - that are also caught in the safety checkpoints.
"I'm hoping people will drive safely every day," Williamson said. "The point of the safety checks is to make sure all laws are being followed."
Normally the task is done with the help of ACC Police since so many officers are required for a strong checkpoint. For example, the East Campus checkpoint had 12 University officers, along with those from the State Patrol.
"One reason the numbers were so high is we had a number of officers we normally don't have," Whitworth said. "We brought troopers in."
Williamson said the additional troopers will not be present for checkpoints this weekend.
There were 63 arrests between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, out of more than 700 cars stopped. Of the arrests, 19 were University faculty or students.
The various checkpoints, which ran from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., were located in problem areas such as Lumpkin Street at Carlton Street, Lexington Road at the Ga. 10 Loop, and North Avenue
"The reason we did this across the nation is that the highway safety transportation board showed that 38 percent of fatalities on St. Patrick's Day are alcohol related," Sgt. Al Whitworth of the Georgia State Patrol said in a Thursday interview. "We decided to do a combined effort with Athens-Clarke County and the University of Georgia and we did a concentrated effort to target DUI drivers."
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety issued earlier this week a media release for police departments to increase vigilance during the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
However, University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said his department does checkpoints year round and looks for more than just DUIs.
"When we do safety road checks, [DUIs are] not our top priority," Williamson said.
He said the checkpoints, which are done four to six times a year, are in an effort to make the roads safe, not to give out citations.
"If they yield DUIs, then that's what they yield. Our goal is to make the Georgia roads safe. If we get out there and do not give out any citations, then that is successful because the roads are safe," Williamson said.
Williamson pointed out the various other crimes - such as seatbelt violations and driving without insurance - that are also caught in the safety checkpoints.
"I'm hoping people will drive safely every day," Williamson said. "The point of the safety checks is to make sure all laws are being followed."
Normally the task is done with the help of ACC Police since so many officers are required for a strong checkpoint. For example, the East Campus checkpoint had 12 University officers, along with those from the State Patrol.
"One reason the numbers were so high is we had a number of officers we normally don't have," Whitworth said. "We brought troopers in."
Williamson said the additional troopers will not be present for checkpoints this weekend.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
rn
posted 3/20/09 @ 7:36 AM EST
"Targeted effort?" Hardly. These checkpoints are ridiculous, regardless of the goal. I'm tired of sitting in long lines, breathing in the fumes of the cars around me that have never passed any emissions test, calling home to tell my family I'm running late through no fault of my own, simply because of the "I can stop you anywhere, anytime, for any reason even though you've demonstrated no cause to be stopped other than driving on a road where others have driven drunk" attitude of Georgia law enforcement. (Continued…)
I love statistics
posted 3/20/09 @ 9:07 AM EST
"The reason we did this across the nation is that the highway safety transportation board showed that 38 percent of fatalities on St. Patrick's Day are alcohol related," Sgt. (Continued…)
Winslo
posted 3/20/09 @ 9:25 AM EST
Hey students: Based on yesterday's article, make sure those professors are identified in class!
They are "not excused" if they have to go to court!
Jack
posted 3/20/09 @ 9:34 AM EST
I wonder how the families of all the people that were killed or injured by drunk drivers feel about a simple roadblock taking these offenders off the road. (Continued…)
CaliforniaStateLotto
posted 3/20/09 @ 10:38 AM EST
very good post
Joe
posted 3/20/09 @ 1:38 PM EST
So, bottom line...do more checks on st. patty's day and find more DUI's. perhaps checks should be done all the time to crack down on the real problem. (Continued…)
wtf
posted 3/20/09 @ 3:25 PM EST
i'm wondering if the red and black ever reports actual news. would any respectable newspaper put a bunch of DUIs or drug arrests on the front page? this is worse than the inquirer. (Continued…)
Ricky Ross
posted 3/20/09 @ 9:01 PM EST
Hurray Alcohol!
Drunky McDrunkerson
posted 3/20/09 @ 11:20 PM EST
So the moral of the story is to not drive intoxicated between the hours of 9pm - 4am?
Get Real
posted 3/22/09 @ 8:27 PM EST
Caitlyn this truly a sad sight to see all of these various arrests from this week from the 30 DUI's, minor in possessions, and suspended licenses. Everyone seems to be very upset about the check points on St. (Continued…)
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