Monday, March 23, 2009

Update On The St. Pat's DUI Checks

From HoCo PD:

The Howard County Department of Police conducted a Sobriety Checkpoint between Friday, March 20, 2009 and Saturday, March 21, 2009. The checkpoint was established on northbound US Rt. 1 near North Laurel Road, in Laurel, Howard County.

Approximately 549 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, which was manned by Howard County Police Officers, with support from members of the Howard County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.).

Eight (8) vehicles were pulled over for further examination and five (5) drivers were arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Driving While Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs. One additional driver was arrested in a stolen vehicle, one additional driver was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear in Court and one additional driver was arrested for driving without a driver’s license. An arrest of a subject in possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance was also made.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

How is it proper that MADD participates in official police activity, especially activity with questionable constitutional basis?

Anonymous said...

Supreme Court and state high courts across the country have ruled in favor of checkpoints, so there is no questionable constitutional basis. Checkpoints are entirely legal and very effective (20% drop in crashes on average, according to CDC).

And it's not only proper, it's lauditory, that civilians assist law enforcement with their duties.

Anonymous said...

Would love to see how that 20% figure was estimated. Can you imagine a study that would give a meaningful estimate? As a non-drinker I will never cooperate with such an unwarranted intrusion on my privacy.