DUI checkpoint garners 11 arrests

Seven are charged with driving under the influence during the stops in Pinellas County.

By Times Staff
Published September 5, 2005

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A sobriety checkpoint conducted by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on Saturday night and early Sunday on 54th Avenue N at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in St. Petersburg resulted in DUI charges against seven drivers.

The Sheriff's Office checkpoint was done in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's DUI Sustained Enforcement Program known as "You Drink and Drive. You Lose." This national DUI crackdown ran from Aug. 19 until today. A total of 1,105 vehicles passed through checkpoints, with 247 drivers stopped for assessment. The average time stopped for non-impaired drivers was 1 minute 32 seconds.

Sgt. Richard Nalven of the DUI Enforcement Unit said 11 people were arrested on a total of 23 charges during the sobriety checkpoints, including seven for driving under the influence.

The sobriety checkpoints were conducted by 30 members of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, two Explorers and three Parole/Probation officers from the Florida Department of Corrections. They were assisted by two officers from the Pinellas Park Police Department.