Location for DUI checkpoint tonight unknown

A DUI checkpoint is scheduled for this evening, but there's a catch " the Carson City Sheriff's Department is not releasing its location.

For the second time this year, officers with the sheriff's department and the Nevada Highway Patrol will take part in a checkpoint to snag drunken drivers.

In past checkpoints, said Deputy Jarrod Adams, the Sheriff's Department would announce the location of the checkpoint in the hopes of preventing drunk driving.

Adams said with that approach he found that people were still driving drunk, but were just avoiding the location of the checkpoint.

Tonight's checkpoint will not be announced, however, so Carson City motorists who are inclined to drink and drive should stay home.

"For about two years we thought we had to announce the location to meet with the federal requirements for the grant. I recently found out we only have to send out a press release to say we are doing a checkpoint. We will no longer release the location of the checkpoints," said Adams.

In 2006, more than 13,000 people died nationwide in motor vehicle accidents involving drivers with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher. Driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher is illegal in every state.

"Our message is simple: No matter what you drive " a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle " if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you," said Adams in a news release. "The Carson City Sheriff's Office is dedicated to arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever we find them."

Adams said in 2007, between January and July, Carson City deputies arrested 266 people on driving under the influence charges. For the same time period this year, deputies have made 338 DUI arrests.

The checkpoint is scheduled between 6 and 10 p.m.

Overtime for this event is paid for by a grant from the Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety.

For more information contact Adams at 887-2020 ext. 45314.

- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.