Department of Commerce and Regulation
For Immediate Release: Friday, September 13, 2002
For More Information: Col. Tom Dravland or Maj. Dan Mosteller, 773-3105

Highway Patrol Announces Checkpoint Locations for Final Weeks of Sobriety Campaign

(Pierre) – The Highway Patrol’s highly successful Summer Sobriety Checkpoint Campaign will wind up after checkpoints that will be held during the next two weeks. 

The final round of checkpoints will be conducted in eleven counties statewide: Faulk, Campbell, Pennington, Custer, Mellette, Lincoln, Davidson, Gregory, Brule, Lake, and Clay.

Despite the length of the program and the publicity it has received, troopers at checkpoints are still reporting violations of the state’s impaired driving laws. The numbers from the latest round of checkpoints show that 801 vehicles passed through checkpoints statewide. Out of those 801 vehicles, 110 drivers had been drinking and 20 drivers were arrested for DUI. In addition, 22 other alcohol-related arrests were made.

"Although we are pleased to have taken those 20 drunk drivers off the road, the fact that approximately 1 driver in 8 that passed through our checkpoints had been drinking shows that there is still a percentage of our citizens that don’t understand the dangers of drinking and driving," said Col. Tom Dravland, Superintendent of the Highway Patrol.

And the public is glad that someone is out on the highways reminding drunk drivers of those dangers. Patrol troopers are reporting many positive comments and encouragement from motorists passing through the checkpoints. "The vast majority of citizens are very supportive of our efforts to get the drinking drivers off the roads and make South Dakota’s highways safe for all travelers," Dravland said.

The Summer Sobriety Checkpoint Campaign was designed to educate drivers about the state’s new .08 alcohol law that went into effect on July 1, and to remind all persons to wear their seatbelts while on the road.

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