Sobriety checkpoints in Fargo seek to deter
Because drunk driving affects lives daily, it has become increasingly important for law enforcement to crack down on drunk drivers.
A crew of around 15 police officers and volunteers braved the cold Thursday night into the early Friday morning hours to ensure that the streets of Fargo remained safe for all drivers.
The sobriety checkpoint took place from 12 – 3 a.m. on 12th Avenue by T-Lot.
Checkpoint sites are selected based on high alcohol and drug related incidences, according to a brochure handed out by police.
“ The purpose behind sobriety checkpoints is deterrence,” Sergeant Michael Bernier of the Fargo Police Department said.
Since Fargo police started doing checkpoints in October 2004, more than 80 people have been arrested for DUI at 21 checkpoints in Fargo, Bernier said.
Amy Kingzett, a patrol officer for the Fargo Police Department, said she volunteers to work at sobriety checkpoints because a friend of hers in college died in an alcohol-related car accident. Kingzett is an NDSU alumna.
“ I don’t think people know how much [drunk driving] is out there,” Kingzett said.
When police approach a vehicle stopped at the checkpoint, they ask a series of questions to determine whether or not the driver has been drinking, where they are coming from and where they are going.
The police look for several things when stopping cars at the checkpoint.
They look for signs of impairment, such as bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech and the odor of alcohol, Bernier said.
In addition, the police officer visually inspects the vehicle for open containers of alcohol, drug paraphernalia and suspicious behavior.
Police can only further inspect the driver and passengers if there is reasonable suspicion that their blood alcohol content is over the state’s limit of .08.
If a driver is suspected of driving while under the influence, the car will be pulled off to the side and three standard field sobriety tests will be used to determine how intoxicated they are.
The tests include the one-leg stand, the walk and turn and the horizontal gaze nystagmus, which is an involuntary jerking of the eye, Bernier said.
If a driver fails the field tests, a Breathalyzer test will be administered to determine their blood alcohol level. If a driver is intoxicated, they will be arrested on the spot.
Not only are police looking to arrest drunk drivers, they also want to reward those who are driving safely and wearing their seatbelts.
Several women from Mothers Against Destructive Decisions were at the sobriety checkpoint handing out McDonald’s coupons for drivers and passengers wearing their seatbelts.
Fargo police want drivers to realize that a checkpoint could be any night of the week and in any location in Fargo, so maybe drivers will think twice before getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated.