Police Checkpoint Produces Arrests, Tickets, Warnings

Police Captain Joe Rios this week told Police Commission members that recent increased law enforcement has succeeded in getting some intoxicated motorists off local roads, as well as emphasizing the need for motorists’ safety belt use.

During an eight-hour sobriety checkpoint held on Hawleyville Road in late June, police pressed multiple charges against passing motorists, including two arrests for drunken driving.

Police stopped the approximately 700 vehicles that drove past the checkpoint near Hawleyville Road’s intersection with Covered Bridge Road and interviewed motorists to learn whether they had used alcohol or drugs before driving.

Besides two drunken driving arrests, police lodged one charge of driving while under suspension and one charge of interfering with police. Also, nine infractions were issued, including various vehicle registration and license violations. Police issued 19 warnings, including three for failure to wear seatbelts.

Police Commission member Richard Simon told Capt Rios at a July 5 Police Commission meeting that the sobriety checkpoint proved to be “productive.” Mr Simon accompanied police at the checkpoint.

Capt Rios termed the nighttime effort a “big operation.” “We’re out there definitely making a difference,” Capt Rios said.

Police plan to conduct two more sobriety checkpoints this summer.

Police also recently completed a “Click-It or Ticket” enforcement campaign of automobile safety belt and child safety seat laws. That enforcement project indicated that there is a 91 percent seat belt usage rate by motorists driving in Newtown. The state average usage rate is 83 percent; the national average usage rate is 79 percent.

During the enforcement project, police issued 138 infraction tickets and five written warnings for seat belt violations; one infraction ticket for a child safety restraint violation, and one drunken driving arrest.

Police also issued 29 infractions and 35 written warnings for speeding violations, and 59 infractions and 109 written warnings for other motor vehicle violations. Police made three arrests for driving while under suspension. They made one arrest for drug possession.