Encinitas CA– Deputies from the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station conducted a DUI and Driver License checkpoint as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign during Spring Break. The checkpoint was held in the 1800 block of South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas on Friday, April 11th through Saturday, April 12th, 2014 from 7:40 p.m. to 12:55 a.m.
The purpose of the checkpoint was to remove impaired and/or unlicensed drivers from the roadway, educate the public, deter drunk driving and increase the safety of all drivers on the roadway. Funding for this operation was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A total of 633 vehicles passed through the checkpoint. Of those vehicles, 25 drivers were further evaluated. Field sobriety tests were conducted on six drivers. One person was arrested for possession of concentrated Hashish. Three people were cited for driving on suspended licenses. Two people were cited for driving while unlicensed. One driver was cited for making a U-turn across a divided highway in an attempt to avoid the checkpoint. One driver, in an attempt to avoid the checkpoint, drove off the roadway, onto a pedestrian walking/bicycle path, then abandoned their vehicle at a locked chain link fence gate. This driver was not located. One driver was cited for not having a driver license on their person and another three for no proof of insurance. Three vehicles were impounded during the operation.