Officers Arrest Drunk Drivers At So. Fla. DUI Checkpoints
LITTLE HAVANA - (CBS4) - Police set up numerous DUI checkpoints Thursday as thousands of South Floridians flocked to area bars to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with green beer.
But law enforcement officials hope they call a sober friend or catch a cab before driving drunk.
If they do, several DUI checkpoints, including one in Little Havana, will keep drunks off the road.
An hour into the crackdown, police had six people in custody.
Miami driver Ivan Gomez had not been drinking, but he was caught in traffic.
"I think it's a good idea to do that," Gomez said of the checkpoint. "It's a small inconvenience, but it's well worth it."
Then there's Jorge Lopez who is turning this checkpoint into a reality check for his children and their friends. The idea came from the group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"Don't want them to see anyone get handcuffs on but they need to understand that if they do get in trouble like that, they can go to jail," Lopez said.
Others were also there to get an education about the dangers of drinking and driving, including Anthony Baldaccini.
"Personally, I've never seen any of this happen, so it's actually, you know, it's hard for me to see," Baldaccini said.
Officers hope it's a lesson everyone learns from.
Det. Eddie Avila of Miami Police Department said he hopes people will "think twice before getting behind the wheel."
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
