Local law enforcement will conduct a sobriety checkpoint this weekend in an effort to curb drunken driving.
Around 20 officers with the Colorado State Patrol, Durango Police Department and La Plata County Sheriff’s Office will enforce the checkpoint from 4 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday.
“We just want to make sure people are safe driving on the roadways and alleviate driving under the influence,” said Chris Burke, spokesman with the Sheriff’s Office.
The dates that were chosen for the checkpoint are random and have no affiliation with any event going on in the community, Burke said. The weekend was the best weekend for all three agencies to schedule deputies.
A sobriety checkpoint was last done in La Plata County on May 25, when officers stopped 465 vehicles. Two arrests were made.
The checkpoint is funded by a High Visibility Enforcement grant issued by the Colorado Department of Transportation. The checkpoint is more about education and awareness of drinking and driving rather than attempting to catch people, Burke said.
“Ultimately, we want to get people off the road who are drinking and driving,” Burke said. “This weekend is about educating the people about why we’re doing this.”
asemadeni@ durangoherald.com
