Police Checkpoint Takes Drunken Drivers, Drugs Off Caldwell Streets

The Caldwell Police Department arrested two drunken drivers and three more drivers for possessing drugs last week at a checkpoint on Bloomfield Avenue.

Police brought Bloomfield Avenue traffic to a trickle last Friday for a planned holiday checkpoint at the borough’s border in front of Dunkin' Donuts. The checkpoint and roving patrols that night were done in conjunction with the national Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over campaign, which provided a grant to the borough.

Thirteen officers — including high-ranking supervisors, patrolmen and auxiliary police officers — stopped motorists as they entered and exited the borough, said Caldwell Police Chief James Bongiorno.

“Officers engaged drivers and had a conversation to make sure nobody’s was drinking,” said Bonjorno.

Police stopped at total of 280 drivers, said Bongiorno. A dozen motorists were pulled over for follow-up questions, of which two were arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and three others were arrested on drug related charges, said Bongiorno.

The police chief said the night’s checkpoint — the first in at least six years — was a success and a reminder to drivers entering the Caldwells not to drink and drive this holiday season.   

“Those arrests were very good,” said Bongiorno. “… The objective of this grant is to deter driving while intoxicated. During the holidays there are a lot of parties and … people are using more alcohol, so we want to be out there and prevent that and keep our roadways safe.”