Police Checkpoints Aim at Driving Drunks

For the first time, the San Diego Police Department will set up a sobriety checkpoint tonight in the hope of reducing the number of holiday drunk-driving accidents.

“The highway patrol was the first to use this type of enforcement down here in San Diego, and the city is following their lead,” said Deputy City Atty. Grant Telfer.

According to San Diego Police Lt. Dave Spisak, the exact location of the checkpoint will be chosen today and will operate from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. as officers look for “obvious clues” of intoxication.

A wide range of dial-a-ride programs are available to keep intoxicated motorists off the road.

For those celebrating New Year’s Eve at bars, hotels and restaurants participating in this year’s Taxi Time program, there are free taxi rides home to anywhere in the county. The program is run by Yellow Cab Co. and the San Diego Beer Wholesale Assn.

According to Spisak, other organizations offering free rides include:

North County: Sixth Step House, 436-6949; Mount Carmel High School Safe Rides, 484-4493.

East County: Yellow Cab Co., 234-6161; Alvarado Parkway Institute and Hartson’s Ambulance Service, 465-4411; El Cajon Valley High School SADD chapter, 447-7233.

San Diego: Yellow Cab Co. 234-6161; Diamond Cab Co., 474-1544; American Cab Co., 277-1383; Point Loma High School Safe Rides, 223-0100; Hillside Hospital, 692-1215.