Seven people were arrested and several others cited at overnight checkpoints in Santee, San Marcos, Lemon Grove and Oceanside, law enforcement officials said Saturday Dec. 21.
Three suspected drunken drivers were arrested, along with another person between 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. in the 8800 block of North Magnolia Avenue near Woodside Avenue in Santee, sheriff's Sgt. Scott Hill said.
Deputies also cited 15 of the more than 1,000 drivers who passed through the checkpoint for suspicion of various offenses such as driving with a suspended license or without a license, he said.
In another checkpoint Friday evening in the 1300 block of West San Marcos Boulevard near Discovery Street in San Marcos, deputies arrested one suspected drunken driver and another driver suspected of being under the influence of drugs, sheriff's Cpl. Agustin Rosas said.
Deputies also issued 10 citation for suspicion of violations, including possession of marijuana in a vehicle and allowing an unlicensed person to drive, Rosas said.
A third checkpoint in the 7900 block of Broadway near Grove Street in Lemon Grove netted no arrests between 8 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m., but deputies cited 9 drivers for license violations, sheriff's Sgt. Michelle McPhail said.
McPhail said the purpose of the checkpoint was to remove impaired and/or unlicensed drivers from the roadway, to educate the public and to serve as a deterrent, which could allow for a safer driving environment.
A checkpoint in the 1400 block of South Coast Highway in Oceanside netted one suspected drunken driving arrest between 9:40 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m., Oceanside police Sgt. Ignacio Lopez said.
Officers also issued 17 citations -- five to unlicensed drivers and four to drivers with suspended licenses, he said.
Reported by City News Service
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
