Busy weekend for DWI patrols

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Albuquerque Police Department held its first winterblitz checkpoint Saturday night on San Mateo and I-25 in the Northeast quadrant of the city.

"We're not going to be sitting and hiding and wait for you to come," said Dep. Chief Allen Banks. "We're going to be out there patrolling for DWI."

And that's exactly what APD did. An additional 12 officers were patrolling the road Thanksgiving weekend, resulting in 54 arrests and 13 vehicle seizures since Thursday.

Ten people were arrested for drunk driving at Saturday's checkpoint.

"I think we had people out celebrating and having a good time," said Banks. "Go out and have a good time. But do it responsibly."

It's a message that law enforcement officials will be repeating all season long. Banks said the number of DWI arrests is lower compared to other years. But he said even one arrest is one too many.

"We don't want another holiday season with a DWI fatality."