Police Announce Results of December 6 DUI Checkpoint

A Field Sobriety Checkpoint was set from 6 p.m. until midnight on Dec. 6 on the southbound side of the Berlin Turnpike south of Deming Road.

A total of 1,147 vehicles were directed through the checkpoint during the detail where vehicles were briefly detained and interviewed by officers. Of the 1,147 vehicles passing through the checkpoint 15 motorists were flagged by the contact officers for DUI testing or other investigative interviews.

Number of arrests and charges:

• One (1) motorist was charged with DUI [14-227a].
• Ten (10) motorists were cited for operating an unregistered vehicle.
• One (1) Motorist was cited for failure to carry a registration or insurance card.
• Two (2) motorists were cited for operating a motor vehicle under suspension.
• One (1) motorist was cited for following too closely.
• One (1) motorist was cited for operating a motor vehicle without a license.
• Thirteen (13) motor vehicles were towed.

This DUI enforcement is funded by a grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Division to support increased DUI detection and enforcement efforts. This enforcement program runs from Thanksgiving 2012 through Labor Day 2013.

The grant provides 75 percent reimbursement of the overtime costs related to these efforts. The grant helps to provide funding to staff additional DUI patrols as well as roadside sobriety checkpoints. Roadside sobriety checkpoints have been shown to be the most effective method to detect and apprehend under the influence drivers.