DUI check nets 25

Two drunken-driving checkpoints in Petaluma during the weekend netted police a variety of violators, ranging from teen drinkers to unlicensed drivers.

In all, 25 people were arrested at two checkpoints from 6 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, police Officer Matt Thomas said.

But in what has become increasingly more common, most of those arrested weren't drunken drivers, Sgt. Andrew Urton said, but were on the road committing other violations.

In an effort to spread the enforcement efforts around town, police first set up a checkpoint at Bodega Avenue at Ruth Court, then moved to Petaluma Boulevard North at Gossage Avenue.

A total of 1,434 vehicles passed through the two checkpoints and 1,350 of them were screened for alcohol and license violations.

Of those, 48 drivers were directed out of the checkpoint for further investigation and field sobriety testing, Thomas said.

Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Another 10 didn't have driver's licenses and five more were driving on suspended licenses, police said.

One driver was arrested on outstanding warrants. Two were arrested on suspicion of having drugs on them and two drivers were arrested on suspicion of being minors in possession of alcohol.

Another two drivers were arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana, and a passenger in a vehicle was arrested on suspicion of having a concealed weapon.

Police towed 16 vehicles, 14 of which will be impounded for 30 days, likely costing their owners more than $1,000 to retrieve them.

The results are similar to a checkpoint in July in Petaluma, when 23 drivers were arrested, but only six were charged with driving while intoxicated.

Twenty-three vehicles were towed; 19 of those were impounded for 30 days and four were stored.

Thirty-day impounds occur frequently among illegal immigrants, who are not eligible to obtain driver's licenses under California state law.

Police throughout Sonoma County perform checkpoints targeting various road violations, often funded by the state Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In this case, Petaluma's traffic unit has a DUI grant, Thomas said.

Motorists can expect to see more checkpoints as the fall and winter holidays approach, Urton said.

"I can guarantee it, with the holidays coming up, especially how busy it will be on Halloween with our downtown and D Street celebrations," he said. "We want to make sure we don't have people hitting kids in crosswalks."

You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 568-5312 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.