Here is a press release from the South Portland Police Department:

As announced early last week, the South Portland Police Department will be conducting increased enforcement of Maine’s drunk driving laws.  On Friday night, 6/27/09, beginning at 11 pm, officers from the South Portland and Cape Elizabeth police departments conducted a sobriety checkpoint on the inbound lane of the Casco Bay Bridge (Rte. #77).  This operation was made possible by grant funding from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

During this checkpoint, 563 vehicles were contacted.  Of those, 33 were detained for further inquiry, testing or law violations.  As a result of this checkpoint, 5 people were charged with OUI; 2 people were charged with Operating w/out a License; and 1 male passenger in a vehicle was arrested on an outstanding warrant for OUI (Failure to Pay Fine).  He was transported to the Cumberland County Jail.  All of the other violators were each issued a summons and released from the scene.  One of them, a 23 year old male who had been summonsed for OUI and had left with a sober driver, returned a short time later and confronted officers who were conducting an inventory of his vehicle.  He was arrested for Assault on a Police Officer and Refusing to Submit to Arrest.

As we approach the 4th of July weekend, the department wants to remind the motoring public of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving.  Whether you want to drink responsibly or drive responsibly, they both mean they same thing:  Don’t drink and drive.  The legal limit in the State of Maine is 0.08.  Don’t blow it.

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