Weekend San Rafael Checkpoints Lead to 1 DUI Arrest

Checkpoints on Friday, Dec. 28, and Sunday, Dec. 30, evening resulted in one arrest for drunken driving, according to San Rafael Sgt. Christopher Coale.

The checkpoints are part of a holiday crackdown on impaired driving that began in mid-December and continues through New Year's Eve. In addition to checkpoints, local law enforcement agencies have increased patrols during the evenings.

On Friday, San Rafael police set up a checkpoint at the intersection of Andersen Drive and Gary Place. The checkpoint ran from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and was cut short due to heavy rain, Coale said. Of the 913 cars that passed through the checkpoint, 13 field sobriety tests were given and one driver was arrested for DUI.

Sunday night's checkpoint, at the intersection of Grand Avenue and East Francisco Boulevard, screened 1,172 cars and officials administered 14 sobriety tests. San Rafael police arrested a man visiting from Montana who had ecstasy and marijuana on him and a female from Sacramento for an outstanding warrant for prostitution in Alameda County.

After both nights, police had arrested five drivers with suspended licenses, cited 24 unlicensed drivers, issued 12 traffic citations and towed nine cars.

The checkpoints are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.