DWI Checkpoints This July 4 Weekend In New Jersey

By KARA SEYMOUR (Patch Staff)

It’s a holiday weekend and law enforcement throughout New Jersey will be conducting checkpoints and extra patrols to ensure the roads are safe and free of drunk drivers.

State Police say there will be more than 120 additional troopers on patrol statewide this holiday weekend, assisting motorists and looking out for aggressive driving, speeding, DWI, and illegal fireworks.

There are numerous DWI checkpoints and increased patrols planned in New Jersey, including:

• The Monmouth County DWI Task force will conduct a DWI checkpoint in Wall to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The checkpoint will run from 11 p.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Saturday on Route 34. Task force members and Wall police will pull vehicles from the northbound lanes into the Investors Savings Bank parking lot to determine driver’s sobriety, according to Brielle Police Chief Michael W. Palmer, the task force coordinator.
• Toms River police say they have checkpoints planned will be on the lookout for drunk drivers throughout town, according to department spokesman Ralph Stocco.“We will have extra patrols for DWI as well as to deal with increased traffic volume, parties and fireworks safety issues,” Stocco said. “In addition we will have our police boat out on the water.”
• Police in Point Pleasant will be out in “full force” to keep drunk drivers off the road, Lt. Robert Lokerson said. “Point Pleasant Borough Police is ramping up their enforcement to make our roads safer this Fourth of July,” said Lt. Robert Lokerson. “For everyone’s sake, don’t drink and drive or you will be arrested. The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving—no excuses.”
• The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office will increase patrols starting Thursday in time for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
• Wayne police will have additional officers on patrol on major thoroughfares throughout the township this Independence Day weekend. A federal grant allows the police to conduct these roving patrols as supplements to the patrol division for the weekend.
• Middletown police will add patrols this weekend.

“The holiday program is designed to save lives by improving driving behaviors,” said Lt. Colonel Patrick Callahan, Deputy Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Although statewide crash fatalities are down 7.6 percent from this time last year, we know we can do better. We want everyone to get to their destination safely and be able to celebrate the holiday weekend responsibly with their friends and families.”

The State Police’s holiday period will run from Thursday, July 2 at 6:00 p.m. to Monday, July 6 at 6 a.m.