PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—The Park Ridge and Montvale police departments conducted a joint DWI checkpoint at 141 W. Grand Avenue from 10 p.m. on March 16 to 1:45 a.m. hours on March 17. There were 14 officers assigned to the detail, and the location consisted of an east-west county roadway, the center line of which is the dividing line between the two boroughs.
A traffic study, including accident rates in the area and a review of previous DWI arrests, as well as a review of liquor licenses issued in the vicinity of the checkpoint location, was completed prior to the detail.
The date chosen was on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, which is usually associated with people imbibing alcohol and then driving, police told Pascack Press. The area chosen was set up with two variable messages boards, one at either end of the DWI enforcement zone, each indicating that as the motorists passed them, they were entering a DWI zone and no turns were allowed until they had passed through the checkpoint.
One hundred twenty-five cars were flagged in to the inspection area for further review. Of those. 17 were observed by the spotters in the street to have Title 39 violations. The remaining cars were called in based on their position in the queue.
Two arrests were made for controlled dangerous substances, one driver was discovered with warrants, and 13 summonses, along with six written warnings, were issued.
No drivers were discovered showing signs of intoxication.