Thinking Of Drinking? Get That Designated Driver Ready. Madison And State Police Planning DWI Checkpoints.

Between Friday, July 1st at 10:00 PM and Saturday, July 2nd at 2:00 AM members of the Madison Police Department will be conducting D.W.I. Sobriety Check Points. Check Points will be conducted on the Boston Post Road (Route 1), the Hammonassett Connector (Route 450) and Durham Road (Route 79).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute, Connecticut State Department of Transportation Highway Safety Unit and the members of the Madison Police Department are committed to highway safety, the department said in a prepared release. Members of the Madison Police Department will be strictly enforcing D.W.I. and all motor vehicle laws.

These check points are being conducted as part of a Traffic Safety Grant awarded to the department by the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation Highway Safety Unit.

Connecticut State Police will be out in force as well

The Connecticut State Police will be on patrol for the July 4th 2011 holiday weekend with an increased number of troopers patrolling the highways and roads of the state. Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) will be in effect starting July 1ST  and running until midnight July 4th. 

“Connecticut drivers can help state troopers keep our highways safe by setting an example, drive the speed limit, don’t drink alcohol and drive, and immediately report a suspected drunk drivers to police as this is a true emergency,” Colonel Danny Stebbins, Commander of the Connecticut State Police, said in a press release.

Connecticut State Troopers will man sobriety checkpoints in numerous locations in Connecticut. Sites will be chosen where troopers experience a high number of alcohol-involved crashes. State troopers will use aircraft and speed measuring devices (LASER) to monitor speeds. Troopers will be strategically placed with a concentrated effort to reduce speeds on the highways during the holiday period.

And if you are the one driving, remember seatbelts and that "courtesy is contagious"

 “Wear your seatbelt, a seatbelt can save your life and also remember that courtesy on the highway, can be contagious, set the example drive with courtesy,” Emergency Services & Public Protection Commissioner Reuben Bradford  said in the release.

During July 4th 2010 Connecticut State Police issued the following number of summons: 2249  for speeding , 59 DUI, and 427 Seatbelt arrest. State Police investigated 277 motor vehicle crashes  and also investigated 5 fatal crashes.

Troop E patrols: 7/1-7/4: Roving patrols on I 95 in East Lyme, Waterford, New London, Groton, Stonington, and North Stonington.  I 395 in Montville, Waterford, Norwich, Lisbon, and Griswold.

Troop F patrols: 7/1: Roving patrols Route 9 and Interstate 95; 7/2: Roving patrols Route 156 in Old Lyme; 7/3: Roving patrols Route 1 in Westbrook; 7/4: Roving patrols Route 66 in Middlefield

For the rest of the state police planned patrols in Connecticut, click here.