Southern University Police Department has implemented a new checkpoint procedure for monitoring vehicles and individuals entering the campus.
The checkpoint is set up on Harding Blvd. across from Reflections Bookstore and operates between the hours of 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The daily checkpoint for on-campus students still remains at the end of E.C. Harrison Drive and operates from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
“Instead of only checking the cars that try to approach the back of the campus, having the checkpoint in the front would stop the suspects before they even try to get on campus,” Officer Eric Saltzman said.
Since the beginning of the fall semester, four armed robberies occurred on campus. The checkpoint was set up during the first week of school.
At the checkpoint, a student must have a valid 2003-2004 parking decal. If the decal is not valid, the driver must have a valid student I.D. stamped for the fall 2003 semester.
“It gets on peoples nerves, but it provides a sense of security and it makes me feel safer,” said Brandon Allen, an education major from Los Angeles.
In cases in which vehicles do not have a decal nor does the occupant have a valid school I.D., the on-duty officer would log in the driver’s name, drivers license number, and license plate number. However, if the person in the car looks suspicious, the officer has the right to turn them around.
This procedure is not anything new to the Southern University Police Department.
Every year during the Christmas holidays, SUPD sets up the same checkpoint on Harding Blvd. The move was initiated to stop any oncoming traffic between the fall and spring semesters.