SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Law enforcement was out in full force to screen potential DUI drivers and remove them from the roads on St. Patrick's Day.
In the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego Police set up a checkpoint near the San Diego ShamROCK block party. Of the 1,699 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint, police screened 76 vehicles, SDPD officer Tony Martinez.
During those screenings, 18 drivers were detained for further evaluation, with six being arrested. Six vehicles were towed as a result.
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Police did not release any information from separate drug screening from the Dragger 5000, which was unveiled during Friday night's Gaslamp celebration to screen for non-alcoholic drugs.
Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman and SDPD worked to make the point ahead of time that SDPD would be conducting "maximum DUI enforcement" Friday night.
Don't rely on luck this #StPatricksDay or you will be wearing this 4 leaf clover @SanDiegoPD conducting maximum DUI enforcement #DriveSober pic.twitter.com/R9xGxH1Vbm
— Shelley Zimmerman (@ChiefZimmerman) March 17, 2017
In the North County, San Diego Sheriff's deputies stationed a DUI checkpoint in the 1800 block of South Coast Highway in Encinitas from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday.
Of the 878 vehicles that passed through that checkpoint, 41 were sent to secondary screening. During those screenings, 11 drivers were evaluated for being under the influence, of which eight were arrested - five for alcohol-related impairment and three for drugs impairment, according to SDSO deputy Brenda Sipley.
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SDSO deputies also issued 11 citations: Three for driving with a suspended license, six for being an unlicensed driver, two for driving without auto insurance, one for an open container violation, and one for driving outside the parameters of a provisional driver's license.
As a result, 10 vehicles were towed.
10News was in the Gaslamp Quarter Friday night, where SDPD officers tested partiers for drugs:
