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Published on Thursday, December 30, 2004
in the AM850
The Florida Highway Patrol will be out in full force on New Year's Eve looking for drunk drivers. FHP is setting up a checkpoint Friday night on Archer Road in the area of SW 69th Terrace in an effort to deter impaired drivers. It's a federal court mandate that law enforcement inform the public of checkpoints beforehand, but FHP spokesman Mike Burroughs says there's another reason they let people know. Officials hope that people will decide against going out and driving when they are impaired if they know there will be a checkpoint. He says if you are drinking and driving and plan on taking another road to avoid the checkpoint, think again. In addition to the checkpoint, there will be a roving squad of troopers specifically looking for impaired drivers around the outside circle of the checkpoint and throughout the Gainesville area. Burroughs urges motorists to stay off the road if possible from nightfall friday night to 3 a.m. on New Year's morning due to the amount of impaired drivers on the road. Burroughs adds that you can help in the effort too: dial *FHP on your mobile phone if you think you see an impaired driver on the road.