Police Plan Sobriety Checkpoint For Weekend

Town police plan to hold a sobriety checkpoint on the night of Friday, September 10, and the early morning hours of Saturday, September 11, according to Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

Police did not disclose the location of the planned checkpoint, which will be held somewhere in Newtown.

Ten patrol officers and two supervisors will operate the checkpoint, which is intended to get intoxicated drivers off the road.

At the stationary checkpoint, all motorists traveling in each direction will be stopped and briefly interviewed by police to determine whether they have been drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs.

Motor vehicle laws, including laws concerning seat belt use and child safety seat use, also will be enforced, according to Sgt Vanghele.

The motorist sobriety program is funded with a highway safety grant.

The sobriety checkpoint slated for September 10–11 will be the 16th such checkpoint held by police during the past several years.

Past checkpoints have resulted in more than 30 arrests for driving under the influence.

Town police are conducting the checkpoint as part of a state enforcement campaign whose motto is “You drink, you drive, you lose.”