INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Police are stepping up patrols for impaired drivers during the July 4th holiday.
On Emerson Avenue in Beech Grove the night before the 4th of July, police are looking for people driving under the influence at a DUI checkpoint.
“We see a lot of crashes and a lot of deaths. We’re just out here trying to prevent it,” said IMPD Lt. Michael DeHart.
At the checkpoint, officers were stopping two cars at a time. If they thought someone was under the influence, they pulled the driver over and asked them to take field sobriety tests and use a breathalyzer.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said motorist Christine Wright who said she didn’t mind pulling over. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
More than that, though, Wright had a personal reason for being happy about the check point.
“I know people that have been killed by drunk drivers,” she explained. “I think it’s a great idea. I’d like to see it done at every major holiday especially when there’s a lot of drinking involved.”
She’s not alone.
“I actually think it’s pretty cool. I really like having it because it keeps everyone on check and maybe it helps people not get drunk and drive out there,” said Nick Miller.
On a holiday weekend, where police say that’s going to happen, they think the checkpoint will help catch those driving under the influence and also deter those who are thinking about it.
There were no arrests at Wednesday night’s checkpoint, but close to 11,000 cars came through it. That’s thousands of drivers police hope got the message to not drive impaired.