FULLERTON : Police Arrest 8 at Sobriety Checkpoint
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As St. Patrick’s Day revelers took to bars and cars Thursday, Fullerton police operated their first sobriety checkpoint in nearly two decades.
The tally: Eight people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and 28 were issued citations for driving without a license.
Police stopped cars traveling southbound on Harbor Boulevard between Valencia Drive and Orangethorpe Avenue, from 7 p.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday. Police also distributed pamphlets from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
“It’s just as much public awareness as anything else,” Fullerton Police Lt. Mike Stedman said.
Senior Officer Dan Hughes said he proposed the checkpoint after learning that most traffic accidents nationwide are caused by either drunk drivers or those driving without a license.
In 1992, 72 people were killed and 3,558 were injured in Orange County by drunk drivers, Hughes said.
Hughes said he chose St. Patrick’s Day for the checkpoint because statistics show that there are more alcohol-related accidents on holidays.
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