A chill was in the air and the heat was on during the late night hours of Jan. 20 as Union City Police conducted roadchecks along some of the city’s highly traveled roads. Temperatures falling into the high 30s during the eight-hour exercise did not prevent officers from checking the licenses of hundreds of drivers and making 22 arrests.

Officers began their activities on Highpoint Road at approximately 7 p.m. and continued along Buffington Road, onto Ga. Highway 92 south of South Fulton Parkway and finally along Flat Shoals Road near I-85. Those drivers who tried to avoid the checkpoint by rapidly reversing course and fleeing the scene were no match for determined officers.

In all, officers made 22 arrests, including seven charges for DUI, 11 suspended license, one drug arrest, one child restraint violation, three no insurance violations and one fugitive charge, said Sgt. George Louth. Fifteen other miscellaneous citations were issued.

Officers were assisted in their work by having the new district Blood Alcohol Testing Mobile (BAT) trailer parked on site. Recently obtained by Metro Atlanta Traffic Enforcement Network (MATEN), the BAT trailer is outfitted with test apparatus, computer workspace, holding cells and other law enforcement essentials. Louth is the current Coordinator for MATEN activities.

Earlier in the week, Union City Police conducted a traffic blitz primarily along South Fulton Parkway and Roosevelt Highway and, to a lesser extent, on I-85, Louth said.

Unlike roadchecks that are positioned in stationary locations, a traffic blitz often involves police units patrolling as groups in designated, higher traffic areas.

The mid-week traffic blitz resulted in 114 stops and six arrests, Louth said. Officers issued 90 citations for speeding, while two people were charged for no insurance, four for driving with a suspended license and one charge for reckless driving. One fugitive was arrested during the blitz, he said.

Louth said roadchecks and traffic blitz exercises are part of the city’s attempt to promote safer driving conditions throughout the city and especially along the city’s 6.5-mile, newly annexed portion of the South Fulton Parkway.

login to post comments