Local Police Choose Mobile Patrols Over DUI Checkpoints

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Updated: 7:44 PM Dec 29, 2010

Alcohol is not sold as part of the First Night Virginia festivities, but the spirits will surely be flowing at parties and nightclubs in the area. While police will be out in force to stop drunk driving, they won't be using one popular strategy.

Posted: 7:44 PM Dec 29, 2010
Reporter: Ruth Showalter
Email Address: ruth.showalter@newsplex.com

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December 29, 2010

Police agencies across the United States are planning to run DUI checkpoints to catch drunk drivers during the New Year's Eve holiday, but cops in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville won't be following suit.

"It doesn't take long until someone is texting or making a phone call and telling where we are located. Bottom line is that everyone avoids that whole area," said Charlottesville Lt. Ronnie Roberts.

Officers say there are plenty of reasons to keep squads moving. "It's actually putting officers out there on the streets so we can make the people of Albemarle feel more safe," said Albemarle County Sgt. Darrell Byers.

Officials say the labor intensive checkpoints typically result in the same number of arrests as the mobile patrol units. So, while you may not be stopped in a DUI checkpoint on New Year's Eve, Charlottesville and Albemarle motorists will definitely see more police cruisers on the road.

"We're deploying personnel in mobile patrols where they will be continually moving about in the Charlottesville community, looking for impaired drivers," said Lt. Roberts.

Sgt. Byers says Albemarle County Police plan to have about 20 officers on the road Friday night. And while alcohol is not sold as part of the First Night Virginia festivities, the spirits will surely be flowing at nearby parties and nightclubs. For that reason, the Charlottesville Police Department will have a crew on the Downtown Mall.

Both departments will have plenty of manpower on the road to make sure your new year is a safe and happy one.

Latest Comments

Posted by: ip everywhere Location: dail up usa on Dec 29, 2010 at 11:48 PM

It is about time they started arresting people actually breaking the law, sad as it is, a lot of drunks drive much better than the selfish turds running lights and cutting in traffic to put lives in peril because they feel they are above the rest of us all. I'd love to see more police patrols on the road, and not blocking it.

Posted by: citizen on Dec 29, 2010 at 11:27 PM

You want safety? Stay at home. Every day I have a few cell phone users try to slide into my car and even a few drinks will be enough to push these tunas into our lane. If you have to drive rent a truck so the right people are in the headlines.............

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