New Year 2017-18 DUI Checkpoints in Connecticut: When and Where

Connecticut residents will be celebrating the New Year this holiday weekend and State Troopers remind motorists that combining careful planning with sensible driving will lead to safer holiday as they travel to holiday celebrations.

Many travelers are expected to hit Connecticut highways during the upcoming holiday weekend. State Police will operate roving patrols and conduct DUI checkpoints starting December 29, 2017 and continuing through New Year’s Day. (See below for the full list)

Troopers will enforce all motor vehicle laws and focus on reducing the number of DUIs, crashes and injury-producing accidents on the interstates, state roads and local roadways. State Troopers ask motorists to follow all driving laws, as their behavior on the roads is essential to keeping potential hazards at a distance.

Simply putting traffic laws into practice will prevent accidents and save lives:

• Drive the speed limit.
• Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• Ensure that all passengers are wearing seatbelts.
• Signal when turning, changing lanes or taking an exit.
• Refrain from texting or using your phone.
• Never consume alcohol or prescription drugs before you get behind the wheel.
• Move over (when safe to do so) whenever law enforcement, fire trucks, ambulances or tow trucks are occupying a lane. Please give them room to do their job efficiently and safely.

Drivers are also reminded to plan their trips with care:

• Fill the gas tank prior to your journey.
• Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid and tire pressure.
• Fully charge your cell phone.
• Carry winter blankets, drinking water and snacks
• Check traffic conditions before leaving home
• Keep a shovel and sand or salt in the trunk of your vehicle.

"Your cooperation is critical to ensuring the well-being of all who are driving our highways and roads throughout the New Year’s weekend. Whenever you get behind the wheel, safety must be your top priority. Please be our partner in keeping the roadways safe for all motorists," State Police said.

In 2016, during the same holiday period, State Police responded to 1,800 moving violations, 276 accidents including 34 with injuries and two fatalities. A total of 34 DUI arrests were made and 705 speeding tickets were administered. There were nearly 7,000 calls for service.

Troop A - Southbury

On December 29, 30, 31 and January 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., additional Troopers will conduct roving patrols and DUI enforcement throughout the Troop A area.

Troop B- North Canaan

On December 29, 30, 31 and January 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., additional Troopers will conduct roving patrols on Route 8 from Exit 43 to the Massachusetts state line, on Routes 44 and 7 in Canaan and Salisbury, on Routes 202 and 44 in New Hartford, on Routes 4 and 63 in Goshen and on Routes 272 and 44 in Norfolk.

Troop C - Tolland

On December 29, 30, 31 and January 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., Troopers will conduct roving patrols and DUI enforcement in Ashford, Ellington, Mansfield, Tolland, Union, Somers, Stafford and Willington, as well as Interstate 84 from Manchester to the Massachusetts state line.

Troop D – Danielson

December 29, 2017 through January 1, 2018, additional Troopers will be conducting roving patrols and DUI enforcement on all highways and roadways in the Troop D patrol area.

Troop E – Montville

On December 29, 30, 31 from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., Troopers from Troop E will conduct roving patrols of I-395 (exits 9-18), I-395 (Gold Star Bridge, exits 83-84), Route 164 Griswold and Preston areas and Route 2 North Stonington area.

Troop F –Westbrook

On Friday December 29 , 2017, Troop F – Westbrook will conduct a DUI Sobriety Checkpoint operation, in the area of 147 Meriden Road in Middlefield, in an effort to identify and apprehend intoxicated motor vehicle operators. The hours of operation will be from 1800 hours on Friday, 29 December, 2017 to 0200 hours on Saturday, 30 December, 2017.

Additionally, On December 29, 30, 31 and January 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., Troopers will conduct additional roving patrols and DUI enforcement throughout the Troop F area.

Troop G — Bridgeport

Saturday December 30, 2017, Troop G – Bridgeport will conduct a DUI Sobriety Checkpoint operation, in the area of the I-91 northbound/southbound Exit 3 off-ramp in New Haven, in an effort to identify and apprehend intoxicated motor vehicle operators. The hours of operation will be from 1800 hours on December 30, 2017 to 0200 hours on December 31, 2017.

On December 29, 30, 31 and January 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., additional Troopers will conduct roving patrols on Interstate 95 and Routes 15, 8, 25 and 7.

Troop H - Hartford

On December 29, 30, 31 from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., Troopers will conduct roving patrols and DUI enforcement on Interstates 84 and 91 in the towns of Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, Manchester and Windsor.

Troop I - Bethany

From 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. on December 29 and December 30, 2017, and from 6:00 p.m. through 2:00 a.m. on December 31 and January 1, Troopers will be patrolling Route 8 in the Shelton, Ansonia and Derby areas; I-91 in the area of I-691 in Meriden; I-91 in the New Haven and North Haven area; and Route 15 in the area of Hamden and New Haven.

Troop K - Colchester

December 29, 30, 31 and January 1, from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. on those days, Troopers will conduct patrols on Routes 2, 6, 11, 66, 85, and 384.

Troop L - Litchfield

On December 29, 30, 31 and January 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., additional Troopers will conduct roving patrols and DUI enforcement on Route 8 between exit 37 in Watertown to Exit 42 in Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris, Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 Burlington / Harwinton, and Route 72 in Harwinton.

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