Howard County Police Sobriety Checkpoint Results: 11 Arrests

As promised, Howard County Police set up a sobriety checkpoint late Friday, charging 11 drivers out of the 747 who passed through Route 1 at the Midway Plaza in Laurel.

Nineteen vehicles were pulled over and seven drivers charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a press release.  Police charged another driver with a drug violation and three for driving with suspended licenses.

Howard County police checkpoints are conducted as part of a state Checkpoint Strikeforce  Campaign and are funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Highway Safety Office, the release said.

Police had that a checkpoint would be set up but did not give the location.

According to the department, alcohol was a factor in six of 13 fatal collisions in 2010, and more than 1,600 people were arrested for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated.

“By promoting awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, police hope to reduce the number of drivers under the influence and associated collisions, injuries and deaths,” the release stated.