Police Release Stats From March DUI Stop

A Field Sobriety Checkpoint was set from 6 p.m. to midnight on March 16 on the southbound side of the Berlin Turnpike south of Deming Road. A total of 1,248 vehicles were directed through the checkpoint during the detail where vehicles were briefly detained and interviewed by officers. Of the 1,248 vehicles passing through the checkpoint 21 motorists were flagged by the contact officers for DUI testing or other investigative interviews. The results are as follows:

One (1) motorist was cited for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol

Four (4) motorists were cited for operating motor vehicles without insurance

Thirteen (13) motorists were cited for operating unregistered motor vehicles

Two (2) motorists were cited for operating with a suspended license

One (1) motorist was cited for Operating without a License

One (1) motorist cited for misuse of license plates

Fifteen (15) 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 2011 through Labor Day 2012. 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.