A major overnight road safety operation in Richmond County resulted in the arrest of 20 impaired drivers and several other traffic violations.
The event saw law enforcement officials actively working to improve road safety from 8 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday. In addition to the DUI arrests, officers issued citations for a variety of violations, including seatbelt and child safety seat offenses, as well as tickets for uninsured motorists and suspended driver’s licenses. The operation also led to the recovery of a felony drug arrest and one outstanding warrant.
The sheriff’s office said many of the interactions between law enforcement and the public were positive, with numerous drivers expressing appreciation for the efforts aimed at reducing risks on the roads. Officers also took the opportunity to help families by ensuring children were properly secured in car seats.
“You never know when you might save a child’s life at an event like this,” said Chief Jamey Kitchens of Grovetown, the ECTEN Coordinator for the 11-county region. “Thanks to the Department of Health and ECTEN, we were able to provide complimentary car seats to families in need, which helps us save lives.”
The operation was carried out by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), along with the East Central Traffic Enforcement Network (ECTEN), the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
Powell Harrelson from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety addressed concerns regarding the legality of the road checks, emphasizing that they are fully constitutional.
“These checkpoints are legal, as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court in Michigan v. Sitz (1990) and reaffirmed by the Georgia Supreme Court,” Harrelson said. “Studies have shown that these operations reduce alcohol-related crashes and promote safer decisions on the road.”
Capt. Mike Lewis, who oversees the RCSO Traffic Division, praised the success of the operation.
“We’re proud of the positive results from this event, and we’re thankful for the support from ECTEN, GOHS, and GSP. We look forward to working together to keep our community’s roads safe,” said Captain Lewis.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to proactive enforcement and ensuring the safety of everyone on the road, according to a press release.
