By Trend News Line 2024-03-23 12:00:04.
The annual St. Paddy’s Day police sting on Interstate 16 in Twiggs County, Georgia, once again proved to be a successful operation. Over the course of two days, law enforcement officers seized an estimated $93,000 worth of drugs, including 26 pounds of marijuana and 5.5 kilos of methamphetamine. In addition to the drug busts, six individuals were charged with DUI, and 24 others were cited for having open containers of alcohol in their vehicles.
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The operation, known as “Operation Wrong Exit,” has been a staple of law enforcement in Twiggs County for the past two decades. Sheriff Darren Mitchum first implemented the tactic in 2006, inspired by a similar scheme in Tennessee. The checkpoint is strategically located at the top of an off-ramp on I-16, where unsuspecting motorists who believe they are evading a checkpoint inadvertently drive right into the waiting arms of law enforcement.
Deputies set up three portable message boards along the interstate, warning drivers of an upcoming license check, DUI checkpoint, and K-9 unit. However, the signs are strategically placed to give drivers only a brief moment to react. Many motorists, lulled into a false sense of security by the rural Georgia scenery, fail to realize they have been caught in the trap until it is too late.
Despite warnings on social media and traffic apps alerting drivers to police presence ahead, many still fall victim to the checkpoint. The decoy police cars parked beneath an overpass at the end of the exit ramp serve as a final warning to drivers who have taken the wrong exit.
While some motorists claimed they had pulled off the freeway to use the restroom or find a gas station, the reality is that the exit ramp offers no amenities and is a dead-end road. Those caught with drugs or alcohol in their vehicles had little recourse but to face the consequences.
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Defense attorney Franklin J. Hogue, who has represented clients stopped at the checkpoint, acknowledges the legality and effectiveness of the operation. He warns that attempting to evade the checkpoint by taking the exit is a surefire way to get caught.
In the midst of the drug busts and DUI arrests, some drivers managed to escape with only a warning. One young woman, stopped for marijuana residue in her car, insisted she was not trying to avoid the police but was simply looking for a place to buy a drink. She emphasized the importance of knowing one’s rights and remaining calm when interacting with law enforcement.
Overall, the St. Paddy’s Day checkpoint on I-16 in Twiggs County serves as a reminder to motorists to obey traffic laws and be aware of their surroundings. The subtle yet effective tactics employed by law enforcement continue to catch wrongdoers off guard and reinforce the importance of compliance with the law..
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