Thanksgiving 2017 DUI Checkpoints, Extra Patrols In Connecticut

With tens of thousands of travelers driving through Connecticut during the Thanksgiving weekend, State Police are ramping up their plans to keep highways safe for all during the holiday rush. Beginning midnight Wednesday and running through Nov. 26, 2017 at 11:59 p.m., Connecticut State Police will augment its normal routine patrol personnel with additional Troopers throughout the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, State Police said in a news release.

Across the state, Troopers will patrol roads and highways across Connecticut, and will focus on aggressive drivers, unsafe drivers, and drunk drivers, State Police said. Troopers are committed to reducing crashes through preventive enforcement initiatives such as roving DUI patrols.

Troopers will also be looking for violators who cause accidents on Connecticut roads and highways. Every effort to reduce accidents will be taken; however, Connecticut residents are asked to be a part of the public safety solution by obeying traffic laws: don’t follow too close, drive the speed limit, stay off your cell phone while driving and, if you drink, then please do not drive, State Police said.

Residents should remind all young people, especially college students returning home for the holiday weekend, of the laws regarding alcohol consumption and drinking and driving, State Police said.

Patrol Troopers will use traditional and non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issue tickets to reckless and distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers: anyone who is consuming alcohol should never get behind the wheel. If you see a suspected drunk driver, call 911, this is a true emergency, State Police said.

Roving DUI Patrols and Spot Checks run from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Here is where you can expect additional State Police patrols and DUI checkpoints

Troop G – Bridgeport

Wednesday November 22, 2017 - I-95, I-91 and Route 34 in the greater New Haven area.

Friday November 24, 2017 - I-95, Route 8 and Route 25 in the Bridgeport, Stratford, Trumbull area.

Saturday November 25, 2017 - I-95 in the Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich area, and Route 7 in the Norwalk area.

Sunday November 26, 2017 - Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) from New York State Line to the Sikorsky Bridge.

Troop H – Hartford

Wednesday, November 22, 2017 to Sunday, November 26, 2017, DUI/Sobriety Roving patrols during the late evening hours to early morning hours on I-84, I-91, Route 384, Route 291, Route 2 and Route 9

Troop I – Bethany

Wednesday, November 22, 2017 to Sunday, November 26, 2017, DUI/Sobriety Roving patrols during the late evening hours to early morning hours on Route 15 in the North Haven area, I-91 in the North Haven area, I-691 in Meriden and Route 8 in the Shelton area.

Friday, November 24, 2017, Troop I will conduct a spot check on I-91 in the area of Exit 6 in New Haven. The spot check will be conducted between 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Troop E - Montville

Wednesday, November 22, 2017 to Sunday, November 26, 2017 roving DUI patrols I-395 exit 9 - exit 18, I-95 in the area of the Goldstar Bridge and exit 83-84, Route 164, Griswold & Preston areas and Route 2 North Stonington area.

These 2016 State Police stats cover the time period starting at midnight on 11/23/16 to 11/27/16 9:00 a.m:

SPEEDING violations: 896

SEATBELT violations: 311

OTHER HAZARDOUS violations: 2503(to include unsafe lane change, following too closely, cell phone usage, texting, failure to signal, etc.)

DUI arrests: 51

ACCIDENTS investigated: 392 w/injury: 42 fatality: 1

Photo credit: Connecticut State Police