Police Plan Sobriety Checkpoint

For June 12-13

Police plan to hold the first of three sobriety checkpoints scheduled for this summer on the night of Saturday, June 12, and the early morning hours of Sunday, June 13.

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, each motorist traveling in each direction will be stopped and briefly interviewed by police to determine whether they have been drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs.

 General motor vehicle laws, as well as laws concerning seat belt use and child safety seat usage, also will be enforced, according to police Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

The motorist sobriety program is funded largely with a federal highway safety grant. This summer the police department expects to spend approximately $14,900 on police overtime to conduct three sobriety checkpoints, plus roving patrols. Of that sum, $11,175 would be covered by federal grant funds.

The sobriety checkpoint slated for June 12-13 will be the 14th such checkpoint held by police during the past several years.

Past checkpoints have resulted in 30 arrests for driving under the influence, three drug-related arrests, a breach of peace arrest, plus 330 miscellaneous offenses, including motor vehicle violations.