DWI checkpoint goes smoothly; one arrested

About 750 cars passed through the sobriety checkpoint set up by the Slidell Police Department Friday night, and for the most part, residents seemed supportive.

“Judging by the number of ‘thank you’s’ we got, I’d say residents are glad we’re trying to get impaired drivers off the streets,” said Trooper Louis Calato of the Louisiana State Police, Troop L, which assisted Slidell officers with the checkpoint.

The checkpoint took place from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the corner of Spartan and Pontchartrain drives.

Out of the hundreds of cars to pass through, 13 field sobriety tests were performed, resulting in just one arrest for the night. Julian Faciane, 63, 11433 S. Easterlyn Circle, New Orleans, was arrested for DWI.

Capt. Kevin Foltz of the Slidell police had notified the public earlier in the week about the checkpoint plan.

“We’re required by state law to give one notice, but it doesn’t have to say the exact location, only that it will be within Slidell city limits,” said Foltz. “We plan to a lot more of them in the near future.”