Athens and Clarke County St. Patrick's Day revelers' trade their Irish green for Jail Orange

St. Patrick's Day celebrations dampered by increased DUI enforcement by the Georgia State Patrol, the University of Georgia Police Department and Athens-Clarke County Police Department.  Sixty three people were arrested between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, out of more than 700 cars stopped.  Nineteen University of Georgia faculty or students were arrested.  The DUI roadblocks operated from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. and were located in "problem areas" such as Lumpkin Street at Carlton Street, Lexington Road at the Ga. 10 Loop, and North Avenue in Athens Georgia. The Red and Black quoted Sargent Al Whitworth of the Georgia State Patrol, "The reason we did this across the nation is that the highway safety transportation board showed that 38 percent of fatalities on St. Patrick's Day are alcohol related. We decided to do a combined effort with Athens-Clarke County and the University of Georgia and we did a concentrated effort to target DUI drivers." The Governor's Office of Highway Safety issued warnings before St. Patrick's day that police departments were increasing DUI Patrols during the St. Patrick's Day festivities calling it Operation Thunderstorm an off shoot of Operation Rolling Thunder which is a state-wide program were various Georgia DUI police specialist join together in a particular area to conduct DUI roadblocks. However, University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said his department does checkpoints year round and looks for more than just DUIs but for general safety concerns.  Chief Williamson was quoted ask saying "When we do safety road checks, [DUIs are] not our top priority. If they yield DUIs, then that's what they yield. Our goal is to make the Georgia roads safe. If we get out there and do not give out any citations, then that is successful because the roads are safe."   Georgia DUI law and the U.S. Supreme Court state that roadblocks set up for general crime deterrence are illegal and are only legal when set up for a legitimate and specific primary purpose.  Such loose talking may provide problematic in enforcing these arrests from St. Patrick's day. "I'm hoping people will drive safely every day," Williamson said. "The point of the safety checks is to make sure all laws are being followed." Chief Williamson said that more roadblocks are planned for this weekend. So Bulldogs beware.

 

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