Area law enforcement checked a total of 652 cars at a DUI checkpoint in St Joseph Saturday.  Officers from the St Joseph Police Department, deputies from the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, and troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol monitored traffic at 6th and Atchison from about 10 p.m. until 1:30 the following morning.

Officials say there were a total of 18 arrests, including five for DWI.  Seven people were placed on immigration hold for being in the country illegally, including one fugitive who had previously been deported.  Officers issued 29 tickets for other violations.

Out of 30 officers involved, 21 were from the St Joseph Police Department. Their overtime was paid by a state grant.