Six drunken driving arrests at local traffic checkpoints

By Dean Calbreath
Originally published 10:14 a.m., July 3, 2011, updated 12:26 p.m., July 3, 2011

As part of a holiday crackdown on drunken driving, police arrested half a dozen drivers on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at checkpoints in Escondido and downtown San Diego Saturday night and Sunday morning.

But with more than 2,500 vehicles stopped, the number of arrests was relatively low.

Between 8:30 p.m. and 3 a.m., more than 1,330 vehicles were pulled over in the 1500 block of G Street in San Diego, two blocks away from freeway on-ramps leading to Interstate 5 and state Route 94.

Six drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and another was given a citation for driving with an open container of alcohol. In addition, seven drivers were arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license and nine were cited for driving without a valid license. Thirteen vehicles were impounded during the checkpoint.

In Escondido, 1,204 vehicles were pulled aside near Valley Parkway and Avenida del Diablo. Although four sobriety tests were administered, no DUI arrests were made.

One driver had no license and gave false information to the officer about his identity. He was later handed to immigration authorities after it was determined that he had previously been deported and that he had a previous DUI conviction.

Seventeen drivers did not have their driver's licenses and three were driving with suspended licenses. Fifteen vehicles were impounded.

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