Police issue 284 citations on rez

Independent Staff

WINDOW ROCK — A holiday weekend checkpoint may not have been too unusual to drivers returning from Gallup, but two people asking motorists to drive safely may have caught them by surprise.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. and first lady Vikki Shirley joined Navajo police officers at the checkpoint to hand out Mothers Against Drunk Driving red ribbons and information about drunk driving, seat belt use and child safety seats to dozens of drivers whose licenses were checked.

The July 1 checkpoint on U.S. 264 between Tse Bonito and Ya-Ta-Hay coincided with the day MADD became Navajo Nation-wide rather than being limited to just Arizona's Apache County, which is a special initiative of the Office of the First Lady. This will give the local MADD organization and the first lady much more flexibility to speak out across Navajoland on the dangers of drunk driving.

The first lady said many of the startled drivers expressed appreciation to her for her efforts to raise awareness about drunk driving to make Navajo highways safer.

"They're saying thank you for all you're doing," she said. "I'm telling them not to drink and drive and thanking them for having their children in a safety seat."

Sgt. Raymond Joe of the Navajo Police Department's Selective Traffic Enforcement Team, said within a few hours of the start of the checkpoint, almost 200 citations were issued and two DUI arrests were made.

Drivers possessing less than 30 containers of alcohol were required to pour it out on the spot. Those with more than 30 containers were cited for delivery of alcohol.

"It's very effective," he said.

Beginning July 5, he said he will have more than 20 officers assigned to him, and his program will conduct simultaneous checkpoints throughout the Navajo Nation.

Navajo police reported 961 service calls over the holiday weekend with 284 citations issued, 42 DWI stops and 13 arrests.