Delaware police stop nearly 1,200 vehicles at checkpoints, nab one drunk driver

Police at three DUI checkpoints in New Castle and Sussex counties stopped nearly 1,200 vehicles on the first Saturday of November.

Of those, one motorist, near Newark, was charged with driving under the influence, according to the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, which funded the operations there, as well as in Seaford and near Fenwick Island.

Highway Safety spokesman Mitch Topal said he didn't believe the low DUI arrest number was a result of drunk drivers avoiding the checkpoint locations.

"It was sort of an off-weekend," Topal said. "We have to do this checkpoint strike-force. It's something that is mandated by (the federal government.) It's a national mobilization so we administer it on the state level."

As part of the operations, officers also increased patrols around the checkpoints, "in case people try to avoid them," Topal added.

In total, 3,230 people have been arrested in Delaware for driving drunk in 2017.

Also, this year, there have been 13 road fatalities directly caused by someone who was under the influence, according to the Highway Safety Office. Alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor in 35 Delaware road deaths this year.

In addition to the single DUI, police at the Nov. 4 checkpoints also arrested three people wanted by the law, and eight for drug offenses. They also cited drivers for 12 other offenses, including speeding, cell phone distracted driving, and failure to wear seatbelts.

"People who aren't under the influence of drugs or alcohol have nothing to worry about and we'll move them along," Topal said.

Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2329. Follow him on Twitter @kbaker6.

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