FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov
302-744-2743
The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is activating Checkpoint StrikeForce across the state on
Friday, July 12th into Saturday morning, July 13th
Dover, DE (July 12, 2019) – While the summer continues to heat up, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety urges everyone to plan ahead for a safe and sober ride home. Don’t let the party end tragically by drinking and/or consuming drugs and getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Checkpoint StrikeForce is being activated this weekend, which is one of the tools used to reduce impairment-related crashes in our state. Its success is due to the collective efforts from multiple law enforcement agencies and partners throughout each of our counties.
The Delaware State Police, local, and county police departments, will be coordinating DUI checkpoints in all three counties on Friday, July 12, into Saturday morning, July 13, from 10 PM to 2 AM, as follows:
- DE-72 in South Newark
- US-13 in North Dover
- DE-20 in Seaford
If stopped at a checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs that drivers may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drivers showing signs of impairment may be required to take various sobriety tests, including field sobriety tests (standing on one leg, the walk-and-turn, etc.), blowing into a breathalyzer or submitting to a blood test.
If a driver refuses to take a test ordered by an officer, they may be charged with a crime including aggravated DWI if an officer finds probable cause that a driver is under the influence.
Drug Recognition Experts
Drug Recognition Experts (DREs), law enforcement officers trained in detecting drug-impaired drivers, will be on hand at the checkpoints to identify drivers impaired by illegal and prescription drugs.
Officers will also be strictly enforcing speed limits, seat belt, and child restraint laws, focusing on roadways where crashes tend to be most prevalent, according to data from the Delaware Office of Highway Safety.
It is never okay to drive when impaired. This not only means refraining from drunk driving, but also from drug-impaired driving. NHTSA’s 2013/14 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers found that nearly one in four weekend drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could impair their driving skills and their ability to drive safely.
For more information, please visit https://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober.
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About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.