THROUGH MY EYES -- Ron Davis

After a buddy of mine was deservedly arrested at a Huntington Beach

Police Department sobriety checkpoint several weeks ago, I decided to

experience a sobriety checkpoint firsthand.

So last Saturday I spent six hours watching the Police Department’s

checkpoint on Pacific Coast Highway at Huntington Street across from the

Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort.

I had no idea what was involved in setting up a sobriety checkpoint.

Before screening anyone, police have to bring in trailers for alcohol

testing and command purposes. Generators are brought in to run the

trailers, computers, equipment and provide lighting at the checkpoint and

in the area when suspected drunk drivers are given field sobriety tests.

And then there are the cones. They put out more cones than Baskin-Robbins

on a hot summer day.

I found out this checkpoint stuff is risky business. The cops have to

have the area well-lit because they will be dealing with some members of

the public who are, well ... equally well lit. To ensure a safe

environment, officers use a portable traffic signal and direct drivers to

and through the checkpoint with their flashlights.

Even the presence of cones, flashing lights, a traffic signal and

uniformed cops with flashlights didn’t deter some from driving into the

checkpoint like they were refueling and getting a tire change at Indy.

Some of those just needed tires, since they’d apparently gassed up a

little earlier.

One lady, whom I presume was relieved to be on her way, almost took

out a stop sign. Another held up traffic by stalling her car several

times because she couldn’t drive a stick shift. Talk about not having

your brain engaged; her perfectly sober boyfriend was riding in the

passenger seat and allowed his almost under-the-influence girlfriend to

learn to drive a car with a manual transmission. I guess she just loved

to hear the “wine” of the transmission. Another person got out of the car

without putting it in park or setting the parking brake. Talk about your

rolling blackout.

One guy, when asked where he was coming from, told the officer that he

was coming from a local watering hole where he’d just been cut off. I

think the points for honesty and the demerits for stupidity cancel each

other out.

The thing that impressed me most was the Huntington Beach cops. I

don’t have to tell you about police stereotypes, but for the entire six

hours, without one exception, I saw cops who were patient, polite and

professional.

Some of those who went through the checkpoint had attitudes, but not

once during the course of the evening did I see anything bordering on an

attitude by our officers.

As cars came through the checkpoint, the occupants were greeted with a

sincere “Good evening,” or “Hi! How you doing tonight?” or a lighthearted

“Welcome to our DUI checkpoint.”

When the drivers cleared the checkpoint, the occupants were politely

thanked for their understanding and cooperation.

Many drivers were given field sobriety tests, and I witnessed most of

them. The officers were never demeaning or overbearing. They clearly

explained each and every test. Even in cases where the outcome was

obvious, the driver was given a full opportunity to demonstrate his or

her capabilities or incapacity.

I talked to several of those who were arrested. Obviously they weren’t

pleased with their predicament, but regardless, those I spoke with

thought they had been treated fairly and with respect. One detained woman

mentioned that she was getting a lot of attention. She immediately

followed with “But I’m OK with that.”

I didn’t see an ounce of discrimination. The age or color of the

person didn’t matter any more than the age or the color of the car. This

was an equal opportunity checkpoint. Three women and nine men were

arrested. In my opinion, every one was a righteous arrest.

The 12 people who went to jail woke up Easter Sunday staring at a

basket of fines, fees and costs of at least $2,500, excluding attorneys’

fees and increased insurance expenses.

Further, they each will have their driver’s license suspended for a

period of time and then have a restricted driver’s licenses after that.

They also probably will have to be on informal probation for at least

three years. And those consequences are just the minimums.

To finish the subject of checks and points, I should mention that the

minimum $2,500 check each person will have to write equates to 100 $25

cab rides. And my final point? Every cab that went through the checkpoint

did so without incident and wasn’t going to the Huntington Beach jail.

* RON DAVIS is a private attorney who lives in Huntington Beach. He

may be reached by e-mail at o7 [email protected]