Roadblock produces 7 arrests
Seven were arrested during a pre-Christmas sobriety checkpoint Friday evening, the first of two major roadblock projects, the next to be held New Year?s Eve.
?It was a very successful operation,? said McMinnville Police Sgt. Mark Mara, the ranking city officer at the checkpoint, which was a combined effort of city police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. ?Our next one will be held New Year?s Eve within the McMinnville city limits.?
The sobriety checkpoint which led to seven arrests, along with citations being issued to five other motorists, was held on South Chancery Street past Warren County Co-op. The first arrests were actually made as officers were just setting up the block just before 10 p.m. Friday as four underage youths were taken into custody for underage drinking when they reportedly tried to turn around when they topped the hill leading up to the flashing blue-lights in the middle of the highway ahead of them.
Lawmen stopped a total of 95 vehicles during the hour and a half traffic stop, asking motorists if they had been drinking.
Arrests were made for underage consumption, driving without a license and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In a sobriety roadblock, officers do not ask to see a motorist?s license or registration unless they find another violation during their stop.
?If we do see a violation, even something like a seatbelt violation, we can go further and ask to see their license,? Mara said, noting some of the five citations issued Friday night were for failure to wear seatbelts.
Along with pulling some motorists aside for field sobriety checks when probable cause, such as smelling of alcohol or slurred speech, were discovered, lawmen were also stationed at the top of the hill leading up to the roadblock site to pull over vehicles which tried to turn around to avoid going through the traffic stop.
The pre-Christmas checkpoint will be followed up by a New Year?s Eve checkpoint which police say will be held in the city sometime between 5 p.m., Dec. 31 and 5 a.m., Jan. 1. The roadblock will likely be held longer than Friday night?s version.