License Violators Curbed at Police Checkpoint

BUENA PARK — A South El Monte woman was one of a handful of drivers ensnared Wednesday at a Buena Park police checkpoint designed to catch people without valid licenses.

She was arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving on a suspended license, pleaded for leniency.

“Sir, please,” she said to the arresting officer. “Please.”

But she was taken away anyway and her 1983 Toyota was towed.

The checkpoint, similar to police blockades to catch drunken drivers, was the first of its type in Orange County, police said.

“We’ve noticed a high number of the accidents we get called to involved drivers who are unlicensed or have suspended licenses,” said Buena Park Police Sgt. Ken Coovert. “We decided to be preventive.”

Officers staffing the blockade also checked for vehicle code violations, ranging from too-wide wheels to missing front license plates and lack of insurance.

More than a dozen cars were impounded during the nine-hour operation, which began at 8 a.m. Owners will have to pay at least $108 to recover impounded vehicles, plus $18 for each day that the car is not claimed.

Wednesday’s blockade targeted cars northbound on Valley View Avenue just south of the Riverside Freeway.