Weekend checkpoint draws highest number of DUI arrests this year

Eight people were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol during a sobriety checkpoint in Glendale at the start of Labor Day weekend — the highest number of DUI arrests at a local checkpoint so far this year, police said.

The operation was conducted at the intersection of Brand Boulevard and Vassar Street from 7 p.m. on Friday through 2 a.m. Sunday, Glendale Police Sgt. Craig Tweedy said.

Of the 1,700 vehicles that passed through, 856 of them were stopped and 27 field sobriety tests were administered, Tweedy said.

Five people were arrested for alleged drunk driving, while three motorists were booked for reportedly getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs, according to the sergeant.

One of the people taken into custody for alleged drunk driving was Dayana Partida, 23, of La Puente, who rear-ended another vehicle in the checkpoint line prior to being questioned and arrested, Tweedy said.

There was no significant damage, he said.

“I’m glad it was at such a slow impact and at a slow speed,” Tweedy said.

The number of DUI arrests from last week’s checkpoint tops any other operation for 2014.

Tweedy said he couldn’t think of a reason for the spike other than perhaps because it was a holiday weekend.

In addition, four people were arrested for driving without a license and another person was booked for driving with a suspended license, Tweedy said.

One person was taken into custody for a criminal misdemeanor, while another was arrested on an outside warrant, according to statistics provided by the police department.

Officers will conduct another DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Sept. 12.