Road Safety Checks Yield Multiple Arrests in Richmond County
Actions taken by law enforcement during last weekend’s road safety checks included DUIs, suspended license citations, and seatbelt violations.
Road safety checks in Richmond County this weekend resulted in 20 DUI arrests.
Special | GettyRoad safety checks surprised drivers in Richmond County Friday night into Saturday morning, especially those who wound up in jail for driving under the influence.
The East Central Traffic Enforcement Network (ECTEN), the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office conducted the road safety checks throughout Richmond County over the weekend, from 9:00 p.m. Friday to 3:00 a.m. Saturday.
Twenty who were deemed to be driving under the influence were taken off the road and headed straight to jail. Other drivers who were said to be "less safe" were given an opportunity to call for a sober driver to ensure public safety.
"You never know when you might save a child's life at an event such as this," said Grovetown Public Safety Chief Jamey Kitchens, who is the ECTEN Coordinator for the 11-county region.
Kitchens continued, "Through the Department of Health and ECTEN, we were able to provide complimentary car seats to those in need, helping us to further our goal of saving lives."
Road Safety Checks Result in Arrests and Many Citations
Captain Mike Lewis of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office Traffic Division said the weekend road safety checks led to many law enforcement actions:
- 20 DUI arrests
- 8 Seatbelt Citations
- 5 Child Safety Seat Citations
- 2 Uninsured Motorist Citations
- 10 Suspended Driver's License Citations
- 2 Suspended Tag Citations
- 1 Arrest for an Outstanding Warrant
- 1 Arrest on Felony Drug Charges
"Overall, Friday night's operation was a great success in making Richmond County's roads safer. We appreciate the support from ECTEN, GOHS, and GSP. and we look forward to continued collaboration to enhance roadway safety in our community," said Lewis.
For those who might question the constitutionality of the road checks, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety says they are perfectly legal.
"Road checks such as these are legal as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court in Michigan v. Sitz (1990) and reaffirmed by the Georgia Supreme Court for Georgia's roadways," said Powell Harrelson of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. He added, "While you may never know how many lives are saved through checkpoints, studies by the CDC and other meta-analyses have shown that these efforts reduce alcohol-related crashes and encourage responsible decision-making."
