NH State Police DWI Saturation Returns To Capital Region

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire State Police announced this week that somewhere in Concord and/or the capital region, troopers will be working with police to conduct expanded drunken driving patrols. Troop D troopers will be holding the "DWI Saturation Patrol" the weekend of Dec. 21. The program replaced the sobriety checkpoints process previously used to stop and interview drivers during a specific five hour period of time.

"The program, approved by the NH Highway Safety Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, provides federal highway safety funds to support these saturation patrols," said Staff. Sgt. William Graham of Troop D. "The New Hampshire State Police has taken an aggressive stance to prevent persons from driving when impaired. New Hampshire has some of the most aggressive laws in the country to fight impaired driving and the law enforcement community will use those tools to their fullest extent."

This is the first saturation patrol in about four months by state police. The patrols were beefed up during the summer in a number of locations around the state. Officials did not announce the exact community where the patrols will be taking place.

Got a news tip? Send it to me at tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella.