NJ DUI Checkpoints During Memorial Day Weekend

If you party, stay off the roads. And the police will also have a checkpoint somewhere nearby to make sure you behave yourself.

Several checkpoints have been set up during the three-day weekend as unofficial start to the summer season hits New Jersey. Whether you will be traveling to the Jersey shore or down the street with family and friends for a barbecue, motorists will need to be cautious in order to avoid tragedies.

The preliminary list is below. We will continue to update this list as information comes in.

The State Police, which will be direct involved in at least two checkpoints, noted there were 15 fatal crashes that resulted in 15 deaths during the Memorial Day holiday weekend last year. "These types of tragedies can easily be avoided by calling a taxi, using transportation applications such as Uber and Lyft, or making plans to stay with friends or family," the State Police said in a release.

Indeed, the State Police have planned to significantly increase traffic enforcement details across the state from Friday through Tuesday. During this period, more than 170 troopers will be on special details targeting aggressive driving, speed, seatbelt usage, distracted driving, and DWI in addition to regularly scheduled patrols.

Motorists are also reminded that when they see flashing lights on emergency vehicles they need to move over or be ticketed for the violation. According to New Jersey’s Move Over Law, drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and other highway safety vehicles displaying flashing lights must move over to leave an empty lane next to those vehicles. If it is not safe to move over, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit.

At the checkpoints, meanwhile, troopers will be looking for signs of impairment due to alcohol or drugs. Here is a list of checkpoints that will be set up:

• Belmar and Neptune Township area (no specifics offered) on Saturday.
• Cherry Hill (no specifics offered), Saturday through Monday during the late evening hours. Read more here...
• Deal, Ocean Avenue, 10 p.m. Friday through 2 a.m. Saturday; officers from the Deal Police Department will pull vehicles from the northbound lanes into the Deal Casino Beach Club. Read more here...
• Gloucester Township (no specifics offered), Friday night through early Saturday morning. Read more here...

Patch file photo