VALDOSTA — Once again, I had both the pleasure and opportunity to hang out with the many law-enforcement agencies at the Southern Region Traffic Enforcement Network Tuesday.

Back in March, I gave an account of my first “law and order” episode I had when Hahira hosted the SRTEN road check. That night was pretty eventful, to say the least.

Tuesday night’s road check was hosted by both Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Valdosta Police Department.

Before dispersing to the many check points, I joined law-enforcement, city officials and others who represented Florida at the Quail Branch Lodge for food (which I missed out on), roll call and last-minute instructions.

Approximately 150 law-enforcement officials from at least 18 different enforcement agencies filled the large room and prepared for whatever was to come.

Assistant Southern District Attorney Brad Shealey was also on hand to offer any legal advice that may be needed.

The main purpose of the road check was to reinforce the importance of safe driving and following all traffic laws as the big holiday weekend approaches.

At 9:40 p.m., on the 300 block of West Hill Avenue, I “joined forces” with Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine. He filled me in on which law-enforcement agencies were represented at this road block.

He also caught me up on what had transpired before I arrived. Depending on how you look at it, there was no action to report, but the night was still young.

Vehicle after vehicle stopped and were checked by the patrolmen.  Off into the distance, however, I noticed people turning around in business parking lots and going in the opposite direction in order to avoid the perimeter. Of course it is not known if they were trying to avoid being arrested for something or just didn’t have the patience to wait in the short lines.

For the most part, motorists were cooperative with the road check.

Just before 10 p.m., I looked down at my notepad and realized I didn’t have very much written down. I told Sheriff Prine I needed to see if there was some action on the other side. As soon as I walked over to the 300 block of West Central, I saw a man in handcuffs being searched. An officer verified that the man rolled through the road check with an open bottle of alcohol sitting in the center console. He was given a breathalyzer test right there on the spot then placed in the back of the Valdosta police vehicle.

While the suspect sat there appearing to be half dazed, the officer took the bottle of alcohol and poured it onto the ground in plain sight of the suspect. I was anxious to see what his response was so I moved in a little closer. As the suspect watched his beverage of choice spilling onto the asphalt, he sat with a smirk on his face.

Nearby, onlookers began gathering on one side of West Central. On a Tuesday night in Valdosta, this was the only action in town, I guess.

The Mobile Command Center, a mini-precinct on wheels, sat running, waiting to receive some offenders. It didn’t take long before a couple filled the seats inside.

At 10:10 p.m., a K-9 dog was brought to the scene. Another male, appearing to be in his early 20s, was being searched for what appeared to be half an hour. The Lowndes County K-9 waited in anticipation for his trainer to release him. After waiting with bated breath on a big bust, nothing turned up and the young man was released.

At the same time, I saw a Beck’s Body Shop truck pull up and park. A young male and his passenger were operating a Honda Accord without a valid driver’s license and the tags were expired on the vehicle, according to an officer at the scene. As the vehicle was being driven up on the back of the truck, the two watched with a look of concern in their eyes. They both walked off into the darkness of the night. The officer told me the car did not belong to either of the two males.

At 10:30 p.m., I decided it was time to get the thoughts from a motorist. A female driver was pulled over for a vehicle search. She didn’t appear to be super excited so I thought she would be the best person to interview.

I asked Quitman resident Leslie Holsendolph what she thought about the road check. I was prepared for a negative comment, but she gave me the opposite.

“I think it’s a good thing,” she said. “They are keeping the drunk drivers off the streets. They are checking for child restraints also which is good. They are doing a good thing in order to save lives. They need to do this in Brooks County where I live also.”

It was approaching 11 p.m., and not much was happening. I was told that previously in the night, there were three car chases, but of course I missed that excitement. Just as I was preparing to say my good-byes, another male was being arrested. It was confirmed he had a warrant out for his arrest. It was not confirmed what the warrant was for.

From the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, more than 50 arrests were reported from Tuesday night’s road block. The calculated arrests from this particular road block was as follows:



DUI- 3

Methamphetamine: 1

Marijuana: 2

Wanted persons: 4

Underage possession of alcohol: 1

Obstructing an officer: 2

Suspended license: 6

No valid driver’s license: 1

Expired tags: 1

No seat belt: 2

Child restraint violation: 1

Speeding: 7

Move over law: 1

The Georgia State Patrol recorded 99 arrests total from the various locations they established. Of those 99, there were 13 DUIs, three felony drug violations, four misdemeanor drug violations and four wanted persons, according to Sgt. Carl Taylor, GSP Post 31 commander.

This road block was the preamble to the Hands Across the Borders crack down that will be implemented this Labor Day weekend.