Police To Drivers:

Sober Up And Buckle Up

By Andrew Gorosko

Police plan to beef up their enforcement of drunken driving, seat belt, and child restraint laws during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays, according to Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

The increased enforcement effort was scheduled to start Wednesday, November 24.

“Starting November 24 and ending December 31, Newtown will participate in 15 days of selective (drunken driving) enforcement,” said the sergeant.

On selected dates, two patrol officers will work extra 12-hour shifts to target drunken drivers, as well as seatbelt and child restraint violations.

“By participating in this Federal Highway Safety Program it is the department’s wish to keep all motorists safe this holiday season,” he said.

The federal government will contribute $9,400, or half of the project’s cost, to the town. The funding covers overtime payments to police officers.

In Connecticut, during 1997, 132 of the 338 traffic fatalities, or 39 percent, were alcohol-related. A majority of alcohol-related accidents occur between Fridays at 6 pm and Mondays at 6 am.

The purpose of the enforcement program is to reduce the number of drunken driving accidents and reduce the number of people injured and killed in such accidents.

Police plan to focus their enforcement efforts on Routes 6, 25, 34 and 302.

Police plan to conduct increased patrols from November 24 through 28; December 9 through 11; December 16 through 18; December 22 through 24; and on December 31.

Patrols typically will start at 3 pm and continue until 3 am the following morning.

Besides patrol work, the enforcement effort may include field sobriety checkpoints.

Police in other communities throughout the state are planning similar enforcement efforts.