SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES SET UP FOUR-HOUR CHECKPOINT FOR DUIS, UNLICENSED DRIVERS.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Motorists on Sierra Highway waited in line Thursday afternoon as sheriff's deputies conducted the second checkpoint in eight days, looking for drunk or unlicensed drivers.

Sheriff's deputies said most motorists - or at least those who were not getting tickets - thought the checkpoint was a good idea.

``It's a wonderful idea,'' said motorist Thomas De La Cruz, 43, of Lancaster, who was stopped by the checkpoint on the way back from the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. ``It keeps legal drivers safe.''

In the first 80 minutes of the four-hour checkpoint, deputies impounded and towed away three cars driven by unlicensed motorists and issued a total of eight citations.

During that time, more than 360 vehicles went through the checkpoint, which was set up across the street from the Lancaster Metrolink station.

At the last checkpoint Aug. 9, deputies arrested no drunk drivers but caught 28 motorists driving without licenses, or with licenses that had been suspended or revoked. They were cited, and 16 of their cars were towed away and impounded.

Sheriff's officials say unlicensed motorists are a growing problem. In the three months before the Aug. 9 checkpoint, deputies cited more than 400 unlicensed drivers in Lancaster alone. Many of those had been involved in crashes, and most had no insurance.

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(color) Sheriff's deputies set up a four-hour checkpoint Thursday on Sierra Highway opposite Lancaster Metrolink station. Officials said unlicensed drivers are a growing problem. Over several months, more than 400 have been cited in Lancaster alone.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer