Fewer End Up Ringing In New Year in Jail Cell

New Year’s Eve revelry ended on a sour note for dozens of people arrested on suspicion of drunk driving throughout San Diego County, but the absence of any traffic fatalities provided some good news for all as 1988 dawned Friday.

Law enforcement officials reported that 34 arrests were made at five sobriety checkpoints across the county Thursday night and early Friday. A total of 2,481 vehicles were stopped by officers staffing the checkpoints, and more than 50 field sobriety tests were administered.

In addition, 44 people suspected of driving while intoxicated were arrested on San Diego city streets between 8 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday. That’s down from the 53 arrests made by San Diego traffic officers during the same period last year, according to police Lt. Connie Van Putten.

Elsewhere in the county, law enforcement officials reported a similar trend. But police said it was all but impossible to determine whether publicity about sobriety checkpoints had heightened public awareness and sparked the decline in arrests and absence of alcohol-related fatalities this year.

‘Pretty Safe Holiday’

“Our frequency of drunk driving offenses has been reduced this season, but I couldn’t say whether it’s increased awareness or a shortage of manpower or something else,” Carlsbad police Lt. Jim Hawks said, echoing sentiments voiced by officers with other police departments. “Whatever the reason, we’re glad to say we had fewer arrests, fewer traffic collisions and so forth. It was a pretty safe holiday overall.”

The constitutionality of using the controversial checkpoints was upheld by the state Supreme Court last year. The checkpoints--viewed as useful in deterring would-be drunk drivers as well as nabbing those already on the road--were coupled with the Sheriff Department’s new holiday policy of booking and jailing suspected drunk drivers, rather than using the typical “quick release” method of releasing them to sober parties after administering an alcohol test.

The sobriety checkpoints, which under state law must be well-lighted and are required to screen motorists on a random basis so as to avoid discrimination, were scattered from the South Bay to North County.

In Coronado, Officer Kevin Hirsch said 17 of 761 cars that passed a checkpoint at 8th and Orange streets were stopped. Five people were arrested.

Sheriff’s Department deputies established two checkpoints, on Broadway in Lemon Grove and on San Marcos Boulevard in San Marcos. Five of 504 motorists stopped in Lemon Grove were arrested, while two of 367 drivers checked in San Marcos were taken into custody.

1,100 Vehicles Checked

Officers with the California Highway Patrol and the Oceanside Police Department teamed up to run a checkpoint on Mission Avenue in Oceanside. More than 1,100 vehicles were checked, resulting in 12 arrests, CHP spokesman Jim Logan said, adding that he did not have totals for additional arrests made by CHP officers patrolling the county’s freeways. Last year, 71 people were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

In Pacific Beach, San Diego police stopped 488 vehicles, gave 15 people sobriety tests and arrested 10.

In other cities providing statistics Friday, El Cajon reported seven arrests; La Mesa officers arrested two people booked on suspicion of drunk driving; Escondido reported four arrests and Carlsbad police made six arrests.

Law enforcement officials said they will continue to establish sobriety checkpoints through Sunday. Most checkpoints operate between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.