CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou Police stopped 109 people Friday night as part of a Maine Bureau of Highway Safety campaign.
Chief Michael Gahagan said the department found no violations, issued no summons and gave no tickets.
“We gave some warning cards for motor vehicle defects and minor issues like a plate light,” Gahagan said, adding that the department did not find any intoxicated drivers during the Friday checkpoint.
Police announced earlier last week they would hold the checkpoint over the weekend, and that it would focus on motor vehicle violations.
Officers switched their position every two hours to prevent drivers from catching on and avoiding the checkpoint.
“Nobody refused to cooperate at the checkpoint,” Gahagan said, “and the majority of people thanked the officers for being out there and said they appreciated the interaction.”
Gahagan said the main focus of the checkpoint was to “keep roads safer” and search for any motor vehicle violations that could potentially endanger other drivers.
Caribou PD did not conduct any in-depth searches during the checkpoint.
“We’re not searching drivers,” Gahagan said. “We look outside the vehicle, at seat belts, and anything we can see in plain view.”
The chief said he appreciates the cooperation the public gives to law enforcement, and recognizes that the majority of people understand “we’re out there for their safety and everyone else’s.”
“There was an overwhelming amount of ‘thank yous,’” Gahagan said. “We never ran across anyone negative.”
