The Santa Maria Police Department had a busy night on Feb. 20. The department conducted a DUI and drivers license checkpoint in the 1900 block of South Broadway that resulted in several arrests and vehicle impoundments.
According to a report from the police, three drivers were evaluated for driving under the influence, one driver was arrested for possessing narcotics, and one driver was arrested for an outstanding warrant. A total of six drivers were cited for driving while unlicensed, and one driver was cited for driving while on a suspended license.
A total of 2,301 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, with 724 being screened by officers. Police impounded seven vehicles and issued 18 miscellaneous citations.
Funding for the checkpoint program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 5, 2009.