CT State Police Plan Increased Patrols for Thanksgiving 2015 Weekend

By BRIAN MCCREADY (Patch Staff)

During the 2014 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the numbers were staggering. Connecticut State Police handed out 5,000 citations, made 52 DUI arrests and investigated almost 1,000 accidents, including one fatality and 97 that resulted in injury.

State Police say they hope their presence will ensure a safer holiday weekend for motorists and serve as a deterrent against drunk, aggressive and unsafe drivers.

If you’re planning on traveling on the state highways this Thanksgiving holiday weekend be prepared to see numerous additional Connecticut State Police Troopers on the roadways.

Beginning on Nov. 25 and running through Nov. 29 at 11:59 p.m., State Police will supplement its normal routine patrol personnel with additional troopers throughout the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

“Troopers are committed to reducing crashes through preventive enforcement initiatives such as roving DUI patrols,” said State Police.

In an email to Patch, State Police spokeswoman Kelly Grant said, “There will be roving patrols this year. With the highways and roadways already congested, we found that roving patrols are sometimes more efficient.”

State Police aren’t identifying specifically where the roving patrols will be but they say if you’re traveling expect to see a trooper’s cruiser.

Troopers will also be looking for violators who cause accidents on Connecticut roads and highways.

Every effort to reduce accidents will be taken; however, Connecticut residents are asked to be a part of the public safety solution by obeying traffic laws: don’t follow too close, drive the speed limit, stay off your cell phone while driving and, if you drink, then please do not drive, State Police said in a release.

Residents should remind all young people, especially college students “returning home the first time this semester, of the laws regarding alcohol consumption and drinking and driving,” State Police said.

Uniformed troopers will use traditional and non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issue tickets to reckless and distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers: anyone who is consuming alcohol should never get behind the wheel. If you see a suspected drunk driver, call 911, this is a true emergency, State Police said.

(Photo: Patch archives)