DUI CHECKPOINTS

Still Worth The Time, Effort

From time to time we wonder whether random law-enforcement checkpoints, or
roadblocks, are obsolete or wastes of time.

Then comes along a checkpoint such as the one Friday night at the frontier
of Collier and Lee counties -- Bonita Beach Road.

Of the nearly 350 vehicles stopped by authorities, 13 people were arrested.
Six were charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
three others were arrested for drug-related charges and four were charged
with driving without a license. Officers issued 21 citations for driving
with an expired tag or without insurance, for example. Those are lesser
offenses in the eyes of the law, but still serious.

Let's see. That's 34 legal infractions. About one for every 10 vehicles
stopped.

Ten percent is a big number for violations by motorists out there on any
given party night.

It looks like checkpoints are not obsolete, yet.