DUI Task Force To Conduct St. Patrick's Day Checkpoint In Bucks

WARRINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — The Bucks County DUI Task Force will conduct a St. Patrick’s Day DUI checkpoint tonight in Warrington Township.

Officers from eight Bucks County police departments will staff the checkpoint on Rt. 611 beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, March 17 and ending at 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. Motorists passing through the checkpoint may be subject to field sobriety tests if they appear under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"We want you to have fun this holiday weekend, but more importantly, to drive safe," said Warrington Township Police Chief Daniel J. Friel. "Our goal is to have zero DUI arrests. Unfortunately, we have not hit that threshold yet.”

Funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the checkpoint
will be staffed by officers from Warrington, Bensalem, Middletown, Doylestown Township, Hilltown, Newtown Township and Newtown Borough and Richland Township.

The St. Patrick's Day celebration is one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year and that usually means drunk drivers on the roads, said Chief Friel.

"With the holiday falling on a Friday, we can expect a fairly dangerous weekend for drivers and passengers alike. If you plan to drink, make sure you refrain from driving and make a plan to
get home safely," said Friel.

"If you’re the designated driver, make sure you keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers. It can be a long night, but people are counting on you, not to mention the other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the streets. Take the role of designated driver seriously," the chief said.