LARGE NUMBER OF D.U.I. ARRESTS AT UCSB CHECKPOINT HAS AVOID THE 12 OFFICIALS CONCERNED

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - SEPTEMBER 27th, 2010

Avoid the 12 officials are concerned about the large numbers of DUI arrests at a sobriety checkpoint on the UCSB campus Saturday night (Sept. 25).

Fewer than 400 cars went through the checkpoint, which moved to cover Ocean at Robertson Gym and El Colegio at Student Health, but deputies and officers from Lompoc, Santa Maria and UCSB made eight DUI arrests.

“The St. Patrick’s Day checkpoint in downtown Santa Barbara brought in seven DUI arrests, our second highest of the year. However, more than 1,000 vehicles went through that checkpoint and there were bars and restaurants nearby in full party mode. We hope this does not mean that we will see results like this all year long,” said Deputy Win Smith, Avoid the 12 coordinator.

One DUI arrest involved a driver who made an illegal turn out of the checkpoint and stopped the car in a bus loading zone. Several passengers ran away, and the driver was arrested for illegal drugs in the vehicle, Smith said.

The California Office of Traffic Safety funds Avoid the 12 through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.