Tangipahoa Parish Council members discussed a DWI checkpoint that coincided with the Monster Truck Show Friday, July 9 with Amite Police Chief Jerry Trabona during Monday's, July 26 council meeting.

According to Councilman Michael Petitto, the checkpoint on Highway 51 caused families to spend more than 90 minutes in the heat before exiting the arena. "Kids and families had to sit out in the heat for over an hour," Petitto said. "It took us eight years to get this arena and people have said if we're going to be harassed coming into town, then maybe we don't need to come."

Petitto, who owns a bar in Amite, said, Amite Police are writing so many tickets that the community is getting a reputation wore than Tickfaw. "I tried telling officers that the arena would not have alcohol, but the officers went ahead with the checkpoint anyway," Petitto said.

Amite Police Chief Jerry Trabona acknowledged to council members that he made a mistake in scheduling a DWI checkpoint near the arena the night of the rally. He also pointed out the controversy could have been handled by a phone call rather than a council appearance. "All I needed was a phone call," Chief Trabona said.

Trabona said he authorized the checkpoint two weeks prior to the event, not realizing it was the same weekend as the Monster Truck show. "It was a mistake on my part and it was not done intentionally," Trabona said.

Councilman Tom Tolar, who was at the arena that evening, said police officers manning the checkpoint should have realized there was a family event letting out when cars began backing up. "It was a mistake," Tolar said. "Lesson learned. I believe this can all be worked out with better communication between departments."

District 4 Councilman Carlo Bruno said the number of grants funding traffic enforcement in Tangipahoa Parish may have passed the point of demising returns. "I was stopped four times in one day," Bruno said.

Parish President Gordon Burgess asked Chief Trabona to see the people's point of view and advised Arena Director Kelly Wells to give the Amite police chief a courtesy call when events such as this are scheduled to occur.

Ironically, the Florida Parish Arena doesn't serve nor allow any alcoholic beverages, so none of the patrons leaving could possibly have been drunk. There were also three off-duty Amite policmen hired to work the detail at the arena.