Drivers in Alpharetta Got an Early Start on Holiday Drinking

made at least a half dozen DUI arrests over the New Year's holiday weekend.

Tires Crossing Yellow Shoulder Line Catch Officer's Eye

In the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 30, an Alpharetta police officer pulled behind a line of cars on Haynes Bridge Road near Westside Parkway when she spotted one of the car's tires cross the yellow shoulder line several times before she stopped it.

The driver was arrested and cited for DUI and failure to maintain lane after beign stopped at 2:17 a.m. The 24-year-old's parents were called to pick up his car, and another officer waited with is two passengers until they were picked up as well.

Erratic Driver on GA 400 Had Prior DUI Arrests

Police responded to a call about an erratic driver on GA 400 at 4:08 p.m. on Dec. 30 and spotted a white sedan increasing its speed and tailgating other drivers. When an Alpharetta police officer saw the car pull into the emergency lane to pass other drivers, he pulled the car over.

An alco-sensor test gave a positive reading of .0207 grams and his breath smelled of alcohol, so the officer continued investigating. A check showed his license had been suspended several times for DUI. Since the location along GA 400 was unsafe for field sobriety tests, the driver was read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice, and asked for a breath test.He refused, and was arrested and cited for DUI, driving while license revoked, driving with a gore or median and passing on the right.

Speeding Driver Also Charged with DUI

A car moving at an estimated 85 mph on GA 400 coming up behind an Alpharetta patrol car caught the officer's eye on Dec. 31 at 1 a.m., so he used his radar unit to check its speed. The car was recorded at 88 mph before it slowed down as it got closer to the patrol car.

The car was pulled over after it passed the officer, and its driver was arrested and cited for DUI and for speeding by going 88 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Drifting, Erratic Speed Clue Officer in to Possible DUI

An hour later, an Alpharetta police officer patrolling GA 400 in the northbound lane just south of Old Milton Parkway at 2:11 a.m. on Dec. 31 spotted a red car drifting back and forth in its lane. The car's speed varied from 64 mph down to 49 mph as he followed it, before picking up the pace a bit to exit at Old Milton at 52 mph.

The 31-year-old Johns Creek woman was arrested and cited for DUI.

Another Speeder Also Caught for DUI Citation

A little more than two hours were left to New Year's when a 46-year-old East Point man arrested on speeding and DUI charges.

An Alpharetta police officer was running speed checks in his marked car on GA 400 north at the Encore Parkway underpass area when he saw a vehicle in the far left lane driving at an estimated 80 mph in the 65 mph zone. He used his radar unit to verify it was running at 84 mph.

After the driver was stopped, he was arrested and cited for DUI and speeding.

Driving Into Subdivision Doesn't Shake Off Officer

It was still about an hour and a half before midnight on New Year's Eve when a red car stopped in front of an Alpharetta patrol car, but its brake lights didn't come on. The officer followed the driver, who appeared to be trying to elude the patrol car, before being pulled over at Mayfield Circle near Maple Lane.

The driver said it was a friend's car and he was driving to the store, but was lost. He also said his wallet had been stolen. Police couldn't get a return on his name at first, because the driver had spelled it wrong for the officer. When it did come back, it showed his license had been suspended twice before on DUI charges and he had never reapplied for a new license.

The 47-year-old Atlanta man was arrested and cited for DUI, no brake lights and driving while license suspended or revoked.

For questions about this blotter, email Bob Pepalis, Alpharetta-Milton Patch editor.