5 DWI Arrests Made After Sobriety Checkpoint in Arnold

A sobriety checkpoint staffed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Wednesday night on Seckman Road in Arnold stopped 150 vehicles and netted five DWI arrests and seven other arrests on drivers who were operating their vehicles on a suspended or revoked license, according to Lt. Dave Marshack.

Marshack said it was an effective checkpoint and helped in at least five cases to get some intoxicated drivers off the road.

"I don't think (motorists) expected to see us on a Wednesday night on a county road," Marshack said.

The smaller checkpoint required 11 officers to operate, half the cost and manpower of other, larger checkpoints.

Although the sheriff's department had surprise on its side by not announcing the location of the checkpoint in advance, Marshack said the word is spread routinely through such social media tools as Facebook and Twitter.

"We've had to change our strategy to keep up with the times," he said, adding that the location of sobriety checkpoints also will change.

"In the future you can expect to see us on other county roads," he said.

As Patch reported on Feb. 13, a checkpoint also is scheduled for Eureka on March 1.