Last night was Marco and Evany's Christmas party, and I was chosen to drive, in part, I assume, because I pretty much never drive and it was my turn. So the party was great and festive and everyone was in a wonderful mood and looked great and there was plenty of good food and the Yule Log on TV, now in hi def!
I was careful and paced myself and had about 4 beers over almost 3 hours. So I wasn't even buzzed when we left, but still.
So we get across the Bay Bridge into SF and there's a huge traffic backup at the Octavia exit and the cops are making everyone turn on Market, so I turn and then go to Franklin and then make a left on Fell.
That's when I see it. The SFPD DUI checkpoint.
Not like it was hard to figure out. There was a bunch of cops and traffic cones and a sign that said "SFPD License Enforcement and Sobriety Checkpoint." So it's not like it was a big secret or anything.
Now, like I said, I'd had like 4 beers in 3 hours, so I wasn't worried about getting a DUI, but still. I also knew I probably smelled like booze and it would be a whole production.
But....what's this? I can just make a left turn on Gough and avoid the whole thing? Don't mind if I do!
So I would say the effectiveness of the SFPD checkpoint was maybe not 100%, since you could just make a left and avoid it. On the other hand, I guess when you're really drunk you feel like "Hey! I can beat this thing! Fuck that, I'm not taking a different way just because of some fucking checkpoint!"
Also, the Safeway on Mission this morning was like packed at 10:30. What's up with that?
I, too, was probably OK when we left (a couple hours after you), but we nonetheless took a remarkably circuitous route in our efforts to avoid not one, but two apparent checkpoints. I say "apparent" because I saw a bunch of flashing lights in the far distance on both Grand and Telegraph, which could, I suppose, have been something else, but I didn't want to find out too late. I was pleased with my knowledge of alternate routes.
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