DUI check yields four arrests | Napa Valley Register

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DUI check yields four arrests

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

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By ALISHA WYMAN
Register Staff Writer

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The Napa Police Department made four arrests, impounded 27 cars and gave 29 citations during its drunken driving checkpoint Friday night.

A total of 750 vehicles went through the checkpoint between 6 and 11 p.m. on Lincoln Avenue.

Three drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. One juvenile was arrested on suspicion of possession of ecstasy.

The department impounded 27 vehicles because the drivers either had no licenses or were driving on suspended licenses.

There were 29 citations given for a variety of vehicle code offenses, predominantly driving without a license or on a suspended license.

28 comment(s)

Paddy wrote on Aug 26, 2009 7:08 AM:

" Outstanding! This should be done much more often. "

Froggie1559 wrote on Aug 26, 2009 8:06 AM:

" I totally agree! Makes the roads safer for all of us. "

amazed wrote on Aug 26, 2009 9:46 AM:

" I agree, Paddy, I'm just surprised there isn't the usual hue-and-cry about it being held on Lincoln. "

winewoman wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:49 AM:

" So, based on this sample, 4% of our driving population are driving without a license or on a suspended license. I'd be interested to know the causes for the without a license offenders. How many are driving without insurance. These numbers are significant - the risk is significant. . "

jmo wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:52 AM:

" Great!
Congrats NPD!!!! "

post-it wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:59 AM:

" They hold it on lincoln because there is no place to easily turn around and avoid it.

The 750 stops yeilded a .4% incidence of DUI. Is this the most efective means to police for DUI?

To those that fear socialism, is it any better to live under a police state where your right and freedom to move at will is always questioned? The framers put in the 4th amendment to watch over abuse of police power. "

bullfrog5 wrote on Aug 26, 2009 11:25 AM:

" What's next... Let's give the police the right to randomly choose a residence or a business to search to make sure there's no illegal activity, etc....? Give me a break. If you think it's alright to be randomly searched or tested then maybe you should move to China, North Korea, etc..... "

bullfrog5 wrote on Aug 26, 2009 11:43 AM:

" What's next... the police randomly searching or testing you at your residence or business any time they choose to? Is this going to keep our neighborhoods safe? Give me a break. Those in favor should think about moving to North Korea, China, etc... "

native74 wrote on Aug 26, 2009 1:00 PM:

" Apparently there are DUI protestors in Petaluma trying to warn drivers to turn around before they are caught in the DUI check point. The not so funny part? The protest signs are all in Spanish! I haven't witnessed this myself, but there was an article online about it.

Bottom line I am thankful that the PD is getting these DMV and insurance dodgers off the road regardless of where they come from. If you've ever been hit or have hit a licenseless or non-insured driver it's not fun. "

Paddy wrote on Aug 26, 2009 2:04 PM:

" bullfrog5 - random searches or 'testing' me at my residence or business!? How does that pertain to anything?

I buy insurance, I registar my vehicles and I don't drive drunk. I expect the same from anybody driving on the same roads as my kids and friends and relatives. This is not a free-for-all. "

koliebug27 wrote on Aug 26, 2009 2:25 PM:

" Touche, Paddy and oh my to native74!!!

I wish you were joking, but I know you probably aren't!!! I can imagine the list of Friday's arrested/detained looks much like the monthly DUI report...

Good job, NPD... keep it up! "

krusty wrote on Aug 26, 2009 4:11 PM:

" So you're assuming hispanics are the only ones who drink and drive, native74? "

post-it wrote on Aug 26, 2009 4:14 PM:

" Could the police have found the 3 DUI drivers in the same stretch of road in 5 hours, without having to stop 750 vehicles on the street by utilizing standard observational process? How many officers and police cars were used? I drove thru one a while back and it seemed there were at least 6 police vehicles and double that many officers. Is that the best use of the limited resources available in this town?

Paddy, Bullfrog's point is that the police don't come knocking on your door and look around to try to find something wrong. Maybe you remodeled your kitchen without a permit. The 4th amendment gives you protection from that. I expect the same right when I travel freely about society. "

calistoga_tony wrote on Aug 26, 2009 5:07 PM:

" Great news. The DUI numbers I totally ignored, I'm really only interested in the number of cars impounded because the driver had no license. We all know why a vast majority of drivers that have no license are driving, it's because they can't get one. Why? You all know why.

That 20-something is only a drop in the bucket, but anything helps, I can only imagine the actual number. Bravo! I'd like to see more check-points "

leavintown wrote on Aug 26, 2009 6:08 PM:

" My post last time they had a DUI checkpoint was deleted for no reason. I said put two DUI checkpoints. One at hwy 29 southbound and Salvador Ave. and one at Silverado Trail and Trancas St. on any given weekend. GUARANTEED they will get more than 3 DUI's. But that would cut back on tourism, and we don't want that. Heck, at 10K - 12K per each DUI, the town of Napa could make a lot of money. "

bike to work wrote on Aug 26, 2009 6:21 PM:

" I am suprised that there were not more DUI or driving without insurance. People must have caught on. "

tiredofcomplainingnapkins wrote on Aug 26, 2009 7:09 PM:

" To post it and bullfrog,
If you want to move freely then walk. Having a license and driving a car is not a right, its a privilidge. Its a privilidge the government gives away and can take away. Its a privilidge because they are allowing you to contol a 2000 pound "weapon", and you are expected to use it responsibly. Its not a right protected by the 4th amendement to drive a car. Its a privilidge. And privilidges aren't protected by the 4th amendment "

ctworker wrote on Aug 26, 2009 7:56 PM:

" leavintown- It is probably too hazardous to put a DUI checkpoint on a highway where vehicles are travelling in excess of 50 mph.

I can't believe all the negativity on here. They aren't violating anyone's rights. It isn't that difficult a thing to do. You pull up, they shine a light in your eyes and check your eyes for dilation, they ask to see your drivers license. How does that infringe on your right to move around freely? If you aren't doing anything wrong, you are delayed for what, 2 minutes? If you are doing something wrong (drinking and driving, driving without a license, etc...) then you have already given up your right to move around freely.

Also, why would anyone turn around to try to avoid a checkpoint??? Easy, they are doing something wrong. "

pharper wrote on Aug 26, 2009 8:23 PM:

" I'm in Chico right now, and several of the students were telling the people in my dorm that if you turn away from a checkpoint, you WILL be caught. They have officers waiting for people to do exactly that.

I say go for it. If you're not doing anything wrong, why should it matter if you're stopped? It's fifteen seconds out of your life that may save someone else's life. I feel a lot safer knowing that cops are going to do the very best they can to catch someone who puts me or my friends and family in danger. "

leavintown wrote on Aug 26, 2009 8:56 PM:

" ctworker: How many people do you think drive hwy. 29 above .08 BAC?????????? Hwy 29 With a DUI checkpoint is no more hazardous than Hwy 80 and Jamison Cyn Rd. off ramp on a Friday after work. The only problem is that Napa would loose a ton of money in tourism if there were DUI checkpoints after drinking wine all day up valley. "

prune picker's daughter wrote on Aug 26, 2009 9:44 PM:

" Great Job NPD! People with out licences obviously don't have insurance or any reason to be driving a car. It's not easy to do the right thing. It takes work to get your privilege to drive. I certainly don't want myself or anyone else hit by an uninsured motorist! Keep those checkpoints coming. "

post-it wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:03 PM:

" tired-
the Michigan supreme court disagrees with you and banned the practice. However the conservative SCOTUS overturned their ruling. MI still bans the practice as their supreme court ruling takes precedence in this case.

Driving freely is a privilege granted to those that meet the legal requirements. Stopping you randomly when you are not suspected of committing a crime is not a right of the police. Last I checked we did not live in a police state. Everyone who is afraid of the slippery slope of "socialism" should be equally afraid of the slippery slope of "authoritarianism". If you want the government out of your health care decision why do you want them snooping in your car with a flashlight?

Pharper, it should matter on the course of principal, after all what's wrong with smacking a few bad guys around to get some information from them? "

dontbugme wrote on Aug 30, 2009 12:07 PM:

" It looks like they can do anything they feel like doing.
Example : For years I've noticed the motorcycle cops hiding on private property to catch drivers,which is against the law. I've attempted,many times, to get an answer from the city attorney and the police chief to why this continues. For reasons unknown they all decline to answer me. It says a lot about their personalities,I'd say. "

pressidy wrote on Aug 31, 2009 1:10 AM:

" Good lord, It is easy to be popular, it is not easy to be just. Quit bellyaching and get over it. DUI checkpoints not only save lives but control the folks who don't have the privilege of being issued a license. Need I say look at the DUI arrest in the paper people! "

native74 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 11:26 AM:

" I'll take your bait krusty - I wasn't implying anything about hispanics vs non-hispanics and DUI's, I just found it seriously wrong that people were PROTESTING (warning hispanics) in Spanish in Petaluma about the DUI checkpoints. You don't seen anybody else protesting DUI checkpoints and I think it has to do with uninsured/unlicensed drivers more than driving drunk. Think it through before you type...

We all have seen the reports in the NVR about driving without a license and having your car impounded regardless if you were DUI or not! I sure wish my insurance was lower, but it's not since we have a big problem with noninsured drivers among us let alone unlicensed ones. "

badheadache wrote on Sep 2, 2009 4:14 AM:

" Hey don't bugme...you say you have seen mc cops hiding on private property? I guess they aren't hiding very well if you can see them.... "

Paddy wrote on Sep 2, 2009 2:56 PM:

" post-it.... There's a good chance I won't be running anyone over in my new kitchen, with or without permits. Nobody on the streets of Napa needs worry about me sitting in my not-so-legal Granny-unit, they aren't going to be hit from behind while taking groceries out of their car.

It amazes me the analogies thrown around in the hopes that flagrant, potentially deadly traffic violations should be ignored. "

John Richards wrote on Sep 7, 2009 10:38 PM:

" Three DUIs out of 750 checked doesn't meet the Supreme Court's 1% guideline for having a valid DUI checkpoint. "

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