The Lafayette Police Department cast its gaze on the city's nightlife over the weekend, arresting nine people during two traffic checkpoints and issuing 11 summonses during a crackdown on underage drinking. The Lafayette Police Department cast its gaze on the city's nightlife over the weekend, arresting nine people during two traffic checkpoints and issuing 11 summonses during a crackdown on underage drinking.
Nearly 900 vehicles passed through an impaired driving checkpoint Friday on the 2300 block of Johnston Street. Of the 17 motorists pulled over for secondary testing, seven were arrested for OWI.
On Saturday night police conducted a safety checkpoint on the 600 block of Jefferson Street downtown near the Chase Bank building. More than 390 vehicles passed through the checkpoint. Two dozen people were cited for seat belt violations and 50 other citations were also issued for various violations. In addition, two people were arrested - one for OWI, the other for an outstanding warrant.
Also on Saturday, the Lafayette Police Department's Youth Services Section conducted an operation targeting underage drinking in the city. Six business were checked for compliance. One summons each was issued at Daiquiri Supreme on Johnston Street and The Bulldog on General Mouton; nine were issued at Nitetown on Jefferson. The three remaining establishments - Pilots Pub on Congress, and The Office and The Green Room, both on Jefferson - were in compliance.
None of these operations is related to the much-publicized new ordinance targeting open alcohol containers in three nightlife districts within the city of Lafayette. LPD Cpl. Paul Mouton says officers have not yet begun enforcing it because Craft wants signs alerting bar patrons to the new law placed within those districts before police begin enforcing it.