Essex County Sobriety Checkpoint Set For This Weekend

DANVERS, MA — Drivers traveling through Essex County on Friday night are advised to expect the possibility of encountering a Massachusetts State Police sobriety checkpoint.

State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said on Tuesday that the checkpoint will run Friday night into early Saturday morning at an undisclosed location.

Noble said the purpose of the checkpoint is to "strengthen the public's awareness to the need to detect and remove those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways."

State police said the selection of vehicles for inspection will not be arbitrary, safety will be ensured and the advanced notice is designed to alleviate fear and anxiety to motorists, while steps will be taken to minimize inconvenience.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)