Thanksgiving 2019 DUI Checkpoint Results

The statewide Thanksgiving 2019 DUI Checkpoint was a success

Dover, Del. (December 2, 2019)The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) coordinated DUI checkpoints on Thanksgiving Eve in each county statewide on November 27, from 10 PM to November 28, at 2 AM the following morning.

Checkpoint Results

Working together with the Delaware State Police and local law enforcement, OHS supported three DUI checkpoints across the state. A total of 65 officers worked 390 hours combined and saw 1,463 vehicles come through the checkpoints.

OHS is pleased to report that Thanksgiving 2019 DUI Checkpoint Strikeforce was a success. In Delaware, officers made 6 DUI arrests and netted an additional 58 traffic arrests or citations for various infractions, including 6 seatbelt assessments, 7 drug arrests and the apprehension of 1 wanted person.

“It is our goal to remove impaired drivers from Delaware roadways and prevent tragedies during this holiday season. OHS would like to thank Delaware State Police, the many local law enforcement agencies, as well as other safety partners like DelDOT for their participation with this activation of Checkpoint Strikeforce. Their continued commitment empowers our efforts during this most dangerous time of year,”Richard Klepner, Deputy Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Upcoming Checkpoint Strikeforce

OHS will coordinate the next Checkpoint Strikeforce effort on December 14, 2019. Three DUI checkpoints will occur statewide, as well as DUI patrols, to deter individuals from driving while impaired.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by visiting:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov
302-744-2740

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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.


Halloween DUI Checkpoint – Statewide Activation

OHS Activates Operation Checkpoint StrikeForce For All 3 counties This Weekend

Picture of Drive Sober, Arrive Alive DE

Dover, Del. (October 25, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is coordinating Operation Checkpoint Strikeforce in each county statewide for Halloween weekend. This zero-tolerance initiative in Delaware, implemented since 2002, is designed to get impaired drivers off of our roads using checkpoints and patrols. The initiative also aims to educate drivers on the dangers and consequences of driving impaired including injury, death, and over $6,000 in fines (for the first DUI).

 

During Halloween Weekend, Delaware State Police and local law enforcement will be conducting DUI checkpoints in all three counties on Saturday, October 26th, into Sunday morning, October 27th, from 10 PM to 2 AM, as follows:

  • US-40 in Newark
  • US-13 in Dover
  • Sussex Highway in Seaford

So far in 2019, there are 16 confirmed DUI fatalities (note: this number is not final as there are crashes still under investigation for impairment).

“This year, Halloween falls on a Thursday, so we’re certain to see extra celebrations throughout this weekend, and everyone celebrating should plan to ensure a ride home,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “If you plan to drink, there are many options for a safe ride home. Have a friend designated as a sober driver, or use a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.”

In addition to the Halloween Weekend Checkpoint Strikeforce, OHS wants to remind the public of best practices for a safe night on the roads this Halloween:

  • If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
  • Find a safe ride statewide from the OHS Safe Ride resource link https://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/Safe-Rides#wilmington.
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
  • Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely. They’re worth it.
  • For more information on the consequences of driving impaired, visit https://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/Consequences.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site

Facebook

Twitter

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YouTube Arrive Alive DE Channel

LinkedIn

Media Contacts:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov
302-744-2740

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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.

 


Fatal Crashes Spike in Delaware

 

Delaware– The Delaware State Police have seen a recent spike in fatal crashes across the entire state.  In conjunction with the Delaware Office of Highways Safety, we are working together to provide our citizens with a few traffic safety reminders.

The majority of fatal crashes are attributed to some form of distracted driving.  This involves the driver failing to provide the proper time and attention to the roadway and to the task of driving.  Other high-risk behaviors of motorists include impaired driving, speeding, unsafe driving behaviors including the use of electronic devices and the failure of motorists and passengers alike to wear seat belts.

Traffic Safety Tips:

Limit distractionsUsing your cell phone, texting, and fiddling with the radio or GPS should all be done when you are at a complete stop or avoided altogether.  Give 100% of your attention to the road.

Walk Smart: Distracted walking, wearing dark clothing, and walking under the influence are common factors in pedestrian crashes in Delaware. Wear bright clothing, carry a flashlight, keep your head up and keep your eyes on the road and surrounding areas. Catch a cab or rideshare lift, or have a designated driver take you home. Walking under impairment is never worth the risk.

Slow Down:  Reducing speeds and/or maintaining safer speeds.  Avoid the fast lane if possible.  If you are in the center or far-right lanes, you are more able to maneuver away from a potentially dangerous situation than if you are in the fast lane.

Be AttentiveNever just assume that a driver is going to stop or turn. It’s better to assume they may not!  For example, when going through a red light, still look both ways to check if anyone is going to run the light.  Not only do drunk drivers often run red lights, but so do distracted drivers.

Driving Under the Influence: Whether it be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, impaired driving is a crime.  Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and give that person your keys. If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.

Wear Your Seatbelt: One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn what you can do to make sure you and your family are properly buckled up every time.

“The Office of Highway Safety is currently running our pedestrian, occupant protection, and distracted driving campaigns and enforcements in every county. We want the public to be aware of actions they can take to protect themselves on Delaware roadways. October is Pedestrian Safety Month. Please walk bright and walk smartly by wearing bright clothes, carrying a flashlight, and being aware when crossing Delaware’s busy roads,” Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II and Public Information Officer, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, please visit ohs.delaware.gov, or visit us on Facebook (@HighwaysafetyDE), Twitter (@HighwaysafetyDE) and Instagram (HighwaysafetyDE).

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@Delaware.Gov
302-744-2743

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.


Drug-Related “Criminal Nuisance” Property In Selbyville Closed By Court Order

Rapes, Drugs, Robbery, Witness Intimidation Also Part Of Recent DOJ Cases

A house near Selbyville that had been the site of multiple drug crimes and police calls since 2014 was boarded up as a result of work by the Department of Justice and Delaware State Police to deem it a criminal nuisance property. The property at 37920 Washington Avenue in Selbyville was known in the area as a location for drug purchases and had been the subject of police calls, searches and arrests, including an undercover drug buy and seizure of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, suboxone strips, cash and guns, over a three-year period. DOJ attorney Oliver Cleary filed a request with Superior Court in April 2018 that the property be declared a criminal nuisance, and in June 2018 a Superior Court judge granted the request and ordered the three tenants to be evicted. On July 31, DSP troopers and the DOJ Crime Strategies Unit served the final notice on the property and it was boarded up. As part of the court order, the property owner is to ensure no illicit activity occurs on the property and is prohibited from renting the property to anyone with a felony drug dealing conviction. The state’s criminal nuisance abatement act has been used repeatedly by DOJ over the last several years to address residential and businesses properties that have been found to be the location of ongoing criminal activity. DOJ investigator Mark Hawk of the Crime Strategies Unit participated in the investigation and eviction. A photo of the property can be found here.

Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki secured a prison sentence for a New Castle man for his February 2018 guilty plea to Attempted Rape Second Degree and Assault Second Degree charges. In April 2017, Joseph Snow, 38, approached a woman at a bus stop in the 800 of North King Street in Wilmington, and tried to force her to perform a sex act on him. When the victim refused, Snow began to choke her and punch her in the face. Good Samaritans were able to stop the attack. A Superior Court judge sentenced Snow, considered a habitual offender due to past convictions on weapons, rioting, and reckless endangering charges, to 32 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation. DOJ social worker Lisa Rapko and paralegal Jayna Quillen assisted with the prosecution.

A guilty plea to drug and weapons charges could lead to life in prison for a 45-year-old Wilmington man who is a habitual criminal offender. Charles Riley pled guilty in Superior Court to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Drug Dealing Cocaine (Tier 4), and Aggravated Possession of Heroin. In March 2017, members of Operation Safe Streets, Sgt. Matt Rosaio and Probation Officer Dan Collins, conducted an administrative search of Riley, currently on probation from a previous drug conviction, at his home in the 1000 block of Bennett Street. Once in the house, officers found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, crack cocaine, and heroin. A Superior Court judge will sentence Riley, a habitual offender and barred from having a gun because of previous convictions on drug, robbery, weapons, assault, and burglary charges, to between 17 years and life in prison in September. Deputy Attorneys General Timothy Maguire and Rebecca Song prosecuted the case.

A 21-year-old Newark man received an 11-year prison sentence for his part in the robbery of two University of Delaware students. Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey secured the sentence for Karel Blalock. In July 2017, Blalock and another man robbed the students at gunpoint as they walked along South Chapel Street. Prior to trial, Blalock called one of the victims from prison pretending to be someone from the Department of Justice, saying the victim that he was in danger and should leave town before the trial. Newark PD traced the call back to the prison and determined that Blalock made the call himself. In April 2018, Blalock pled guilty to two counts of Robbery First Degree, and one count each of Act of Witness Intimidation and Violation of Probation. A Superior Court judge sentenced Blalock to 11 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation.

A 59-year-old Magnolia man received a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to raping a child in his care. Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Dickerson secured the sentence after James Stanley pled guilty to Sexual Abuse by a Person in a Position of Trust or Authority First Degree, Sexual Abuse by a Person in a Position of Trust or Authority Second Degree, Rape Fourth Degree. In February 2018, a family friend witnessed Stanley acting inappropriately with the victim and reported it to her family. The victim disclosed that Stanley had abused her on three occasions, including the incident witnessed by the friend. A Superior Court judge sentenced Stanley to 10 years in prison, followed by 2 years of probation. Lorraine Freese and Sue Balik from the DOJ assisted, as did Detective Will Miller from Delaware State Police Troop 3.


Delaware DMV Launches Voluntary Medical ID Indicator

The Division of Motor Vehicles will begin incorporating a medical indicator onto the Delaware driver licenses or identification cards as of Wednesday, August 8, 2018.  The medical symbol will be displayed on the front of the card and the back will identify the individual’s condition so that law enforcement officers and first responders can adjust treatment accordingly.

Delaware Secretary of Transportation (DelDOT) Jennifer Cohan was joined by State Representative Valerie Longhurst to announce the implementation of incorporating this essential medical information of Delaware residents onto their driver licenses and/or identification cards at an event at the Delaware City DMV.

State Representative Valerie Longhurst explained how the program was initiated: “A constituent came to me concerned about his son’s medical condition and how it could be misunderstood if an officer pulled him over while driving. It raised concerns about a larger issue that we wanted to address. A driver’s license has a lot of critical information that first responders need to know immediately, and knowing a driver’s medical condition someone will be invaluable in an emergency. This new voluntary program will give Delawareans the option to have their vital medical information easily accessible to first responders. I’m proud to have helped establish this new indicator on our driver’s licenses.”

Secretary Cohan added that, “A voluntary medical indicator makes a lot of sense for providing additional peace of mind for any of our customers who have a condition they would want a law enforcement officer or emergency responder to be aware of. This is another example of how the Delaware DMV is being responsive to our customers’ needs, and providing personalized service.”

Participating in this program is voluntary and there is no charge to have the indicator on the license or ID card. The customer would need to complete a form indicating their condition and sign it. The signed form gives the DMV permission to notate the condition on the back of the card along with the medical indicator on the front. The form can be obtained at any DMV location.

“The Delaware Trauma System operates under the saying, ‘Getting the right patient to the right facility in the right amount of time,’ said Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl T. Rattay. “Allowing Delawareans to voluntarily list a medical condition on their driver’s license or photo identification card is a valuable tool that will assist our first responders when providing care in the field during a medical emergency.”

Sergeant Richard Bratz, Public Information Officer for the Delaware State Police emphasized that, “The medical indicator on your Delaware Driver’s License or identification card is important to share with first responders especially those giving medical care or first-aid. It allows law enforcement to gain some insight on medical conditions like those drivers who may have a specific medical condition like; seizures, arthritis, insulin required, hearing impaired, visually impaired, PTSD or autism just to name a few.”

Statewide ADA Coordinator John McNeal added, “The voluntary Medical Indicator program can provide an invaluable safety net for people with disabilities and others to allow for prompt notification and awareness of medical conditions to all emergency responders. Voluntary information provided can help pave the way to accurately accessing an individual’s medical condition or disability which will assist first responders by providing an information sharing process that can potentially be lifesaving.”

Nick Fina, Chairman State Council for Persons with Disabilities, commented, “The availability of critical medical data to first responders can mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations. This is a great use of technology that will make a difference in the lives of Delawareans, especially individuals with chronic diseases and disabilities.”

For more information on the new medical indicator program please visit the DMV website at www.dmv.de.gov