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Joseph Sanchez's girlfriend was passed out in the back seat, and his passenger had just robbed a Sonic at gunpoint, police said.

Jesus Ruiz couldn't remember how to spell "Rodriguez," the fake name he was trying to give police, they said.

George Zamora ran a stop sign and nearly hit a sheriff's deputy, according to court documents.

Those three were among eight men arrested this weekend on felony charges related to drunken driving - a busy spate in the state's long battle with DWI.

Felony charges are filed on a person's fourth or subsequent DWI arrest or if the person tests at higher than twice the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08.

A DWI checkpoint at San Mateo Boulevard and Candelaria Road Northeast netted a total 24 arrests Saturday, Albuquerque police spokesman John Walsh said. Police also seized seven vehicles, he said.

The following is a chronological account of the felony DWI arrests. All information is drawn from Metro Court criminal complaints.

Thursday, 2:49 a.m. A Bernalillo County sheriff's deputy driving through the South Valley had to slam on his brakes to avoid a vehicle that had run a stop sign. The vehicle stopped, backed up, then pulled out again in front of the deputy and drove off.

George Zamora, 53, said he drank three beers and failed sobriety tests. It was his eighth DWI arrest.

Friday, 10 p.m. Deputies pulled over Martin Garcia, 44, for failing to use his turn signal.

Garcia said he drank three beers and said he was on "lots of medication."

He failed sobriety tests and was charged with his fourth DWI.

Friday, 10:35 p.m. Deputies in the South Valley noticed a pickup truck with expired plates weaving across lanes.

The driver initially gave his name as "Jaim Rodrige" but couldn't remember how to spell the rest. Deputies determined the man's real identity was Jesus Ruiz, 55, and that his license was revoked for prior DWIs.

Ruiz said he drank "about a six-pack," failed sobriety tests and was charged with his fourth DWI.

Friday, 11:24 p.m. A man who drove through the checkpoint at San Mateo Boulevard and Candelaria Road Northeast and continued to flee police slowly down Candelaria was charged with an eighth DWI.

Patrick Romero, 46, was also charged with fleeing police. Romero refused to take sobriety tests. Police noticed a disconnected and inoperable ignition interlock device in his vehicle.

Friday, 11:55 p.m. An Albuquerque police officer noticed a vehicle pull onto Central Avenue, nearly hit a motorcyclist and then continue driving with its headlights off.

Jose Ferrel, 45, said he drank five or six beers, failed field sobriety tests and was charged with his fourth DWI. He was also charged with child abuse because a child was in the back seat unrestrained.

Saturday, 2:01 a.m. Gary Sanchez, 39, was charged with felony DWI after he was stopped at the checkpoint. He refused to take sobriety tests.

Saturday, 2:43 p.m. Several people called police to report a car on San Pedro Road weaving through traffic and said the driver appeared to be nodding off.

Albuquerque Police pulled over Victor Lopez-Nieto, who failed sobriety tests. He had at least three prior DWI convictions.

Saturday, 5:35 p.m. A car reportedly involved in the armed robbery of a South Valley Sonic restaurant led deputies on a high speed chase across southwest Albuquerque.

After being pulled over, the driver, Joseph Sanchez, 42, told deputies that his passenger, who had jumped out of the vehicle, had robbed the Sonic.

Deputies noticed numerous beer containers in the vehicle, as well as Sanchez's wife, who was passed out in the back seat. Sanchez admitted to shooting up heroin and refused to take sobriety tests. He was charged with a fourth DWI, as well as conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

His passenger, Chris Herrera, 47, was also arrested and charged with robbery and aggravated assault.