End of August, Early September Sobriety Checkpoint Coming

As a result of the increasing incidents of drinking and driving, the New Hampshire State Police petitioned for, and were granted superior court authorization to conduct more sobriety checkpoints, according to a press statement.

The sobriety checkpoint, officials believe, “is an effective method of deterring, detecting and apprehending the impaired operator.”

The program, approved by the NH Highway Safety Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, provides federal highway safety funds to support these checkpoints.

The checkpoint will be held in the Newport and Sunapee area in late August-early September, according to officials.

A review of records has shown that the use of alcohol by individuals who operate motor vehicles has resulted in an alarming number of deaths and personal injury accidents. Therefore, in an effort to maintain safe roads in Sullivan County, the New Hampshire State Police, in conjunction with the Newport and Sunapee Police Departments, will be conducting sobriety checkpoints in the Newport and Sunapee areas.

ALSO READ:

• Six Arrested at NH Sobriety Checkpoint
• Three Arrested at NH Sobriety Checkpoint
• 12 Arrested at NH State Police Sobriety Checkpoint
• Six Arrested at State Police Sobriety Checkpoint
• Four Arrested for DWI at Sobriety Checkpoint in Portsmouth
• Five Arrested at Sobriety Checkpoint in Londonderry
• 9 Arrested for DUI During NH State Police Sobriety Checkpoint
• Sobriety Checkpoint Nets Four

The purpose of the sobriety checkpoint is to deter, detect and apprehend the impaired driver, according to officials.

New Hampshire State Police Troop C Commander, Lt. Joseph DiRusso, Sullivan County Attorney Marc Hathaway, Newport Police Chief James Burroughs, and Sunapee Police Chief David Cahill “have taken an aggressive stance to prevent persons from driving while intoxicated. New Hampshire has some of the most aggressive laws in the country to fight the intoxicated driver and the law enforcement community will use those tools to their full extent.”

Caption: A file photo of a previous checkpoint. Credit: Brian Blackden

• Sign up for news alerts from local New Hampshire Patch sites.