A sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint conducted Saturday night by the San Marino Police Department resulted in no arrests after 1,073 vehicles entered the boundaries of the operation, which was constructed on westbound Huntington Drive directly in front of Huntington Middle School.
SMPD Commander Tim Tebbetts said that 408 vehicles were randomly screened, with 24 advancing to a second screening. At the end of the evening, the SMPD had cited five drivers for driving without a license.
“Everything was smooth and we had no complaints,” Tebbetts said. He also said that the average time a vehicle spent in the line was 30 seconds.
“This is not to make arrests; it is to make the community safer,” Tebbetts said of the operation, which lasted from 8:30 p.m. on Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday. “The purpose of these checkpoints is to encourage members of the community to think about what is happening out on our roads.”
All cars heading westbound were funneled into a chute that was formed in the parking lot that is shared by HMS and the San Marino Center. Officers working the operation randomly sent vehicles to a second checkpoint for an additional screening. There, those unable to immediately locate their driver’s license at the initial screening were given extra time to search their vehicles, Tebbetts said. The checkpoint was filmed by officers.
The checkpoint was funded by the Office of Traffic Safety, and San Marino is planning more in upcoming months. Tebbetts said the dates have not yet been set.
