Metro Police Use DUI Checkpoint to Catch Impaired Drivers

OFF THE WIRE
LAS VEGAS - The headlights of cars shined along with the bright neon of the Boulder Strip at a Metro Police DUI checkpoint near Boulder Highway and Flamingo Road.
The first arrest of the night was a mother who was driving under the influence. She had her young daughter in the car with her, according to police. Police handcuffed the woman and took her to jail. Her daughter will spend the night in the care of Child Protective Services.
"Sixty six percent of all children who are killed in traffic crashes are riding with a drunken adult. As you can see, there is an example," said Stop DUI Executive Director Sandy Heverly. "Because of this checkpoint, that child's life was probably saved tonight."
For hours, police pulled other suspected impaired drivers off Boulder Highway and administered a variety of field sobriety tests.
Robin Wynkoop knows the consequences of driving under the influence. Her mother died and another woman lost both her legs when Steven Murray crashed into a bus stop in 2008. He's serving up to a life sentence for driving while high on prescription drugs.
"I got involved with Stop DUI when my mother was killed on July 7, 2008 right at that bus stop," she said. "I see how stupid and preventable this is. There's no reason anyone in this town should think twice. They should stop and not do it."
Metro officers say they've seen a noticeable increase in drivers high on prescription drugs. Police also caught numerous drivers with alcohol in their system.
"We've had them just barely above the legal limit, and we've had them extremely above the legal limit. We've had them as high as point three," said Metro Police Det. Scott Lang.
Metro Police hope DUI checkpoints will remind the public to avoid a night in jail and hefty fines by not drinking and driving.
The DUI checkpoint at Boulder Highway and Flamingo will last until 3 a.m.