In an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related car crashes that occur during graduation and prom season, the Centre County Alcohol Task Force began an extensive system of sobriety checkpoints, roving DUI patrols and Cops-in-Shops Friday.

Cops-in-Shops entails police officers patrolling area bottle shops to prevent the sale and furnishing of alcohol to minors.

Douglas Waddington, bar manager at Sharkies Bar & Thrifty Bottle Shop, 110 Sowers St., said he noticed the police parked across the street from the shop over the weekend, but he did not notice their presence in the bar or shop. He said he thought the heightened control the police were implementing was a positive thing.

"My reaction would be that it's a good idea during prom season and when we have home football games," Waddington said. "There are many bars in this town, and they all have a high turnover rate. Mistakes happen, especially when people have only been doing their jobs for six months or a year. These guys are out there making sure we're doing our job."

Nate Green (senior-history) said he had bought a 12-pack of beer at Brewsky's Bottle Shop at Days Inn Penn State, 240 S. Pugh St., on Saturday night, but did not encounter or see any police in or near the shop.

"I had to stand in line to get in," Green said. "It was the first time I've ever had to stand in line to get into a bottle shop."

"There was a guy checking IDs, but I didn't see any evidence of the police," he said. "There was a group of our friends standing outside waiting for us to come out and they weren't questioned about what they were doing or anything."

On Friday the Cops-in-Shops police detail questioned 36 people in State College borough and Ferguson and Patton townships.

Police seized one false ID, gave seven minors law citations and six furnishing of alcohol to minors offenses, according to task force officials.

As part of the roving DUI patrols, 28 vehicles were stopped, six field tests were performed and four people were given blood tests. Eight traffic citations, one minors law violation and 20 warnings were also issued.

The alcohol enforcement details continued Saturday.

During the second night's roving DUI patrols, the police stopped 30 vehicles, performed 10 field tests and took in seven people for blood tests.

Eight minors law violations, 21 warnings and one drug violation were issued, the task force said.

All patrols took place between the hours of 4 p.m. and 4 a.m.

The task force will continue its alcohol enforcement details throughout the spring and summer.