DUI Checkpoint and Patrols Set for Weekend

Dover –  One Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI checkpoint is scheduled to take place Friday August 1st, in Newark and will be conducted by the Delaware State Police.  DUI saturation patrols will also be conducted this weekend by Harrington PD and Seaford PD.

Last week 88 individuals were arrested for DUI in Delaware bringing the total DUI arrests statewide for 2014 to 2,330.  Of the 76 fatal crashes this year, 40% were alcohol related.

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders, by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign, a six month long effort running through New Year’s Eve, involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints statewide.

For more information on Checkpoint Strikeforce visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe  and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.


Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI Enforcement Continues

Dover –  One Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI checkpoint is scheduled to take place Saturday July 26th, in Rehoboth Beach and will be conducted by the Delaware State Police.  DUI saturation patrols will also be conducted this weekend by Dover PD, Laurel PD, Rehoboth PD, and Smyrna PD.

Last week 93 individuals were arrested for DUI in Delaware bringing the total DUI arrests statewide for 2014 to 2,242.  Of the 74 fatal crashes this year, 40% were alcohol related.

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders, by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign, a six month long effort running through New Year’s Eve, involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints statewide.

For more information on Checkpoint Strikeforce visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe  and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.


DUI Checkpoint and Patrols This Weekend

Dover –  One Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI checkpoint is scheduled to take place tonight, Friday, July 18th, in Wilmington and will be conducted by the New Castle County DUI Task Force.  Delaware State Police Troop 3 will also be saturating Kent County with roving patrols cracking down on impaired drivers this weekend.

Last week 80 individuals were arrested for DUI in Delaware bringing the total DUI arrests statewide for 2014 to 2,149.  Of the 62 fatal crashes this year, 39% were alcohol related.

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders, by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign, a six month long effort running through New Year’s Eve, involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints statewide.

For more information on Checkpoint Strikeforce visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe  and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

 


Highway Safety Officials Stress Traffic Enforcement

Dover – The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is stressing the importance of traffic safety after a deadly first week in July and reminding motorists law enforcement officers are out enforcing these laws to help protect the public and save lives.  Several enforcement campaigns are in effect to address speeding, impaired driving, motorcycle safety, pedestrian safety and seat belt use; most of which were a factor in the crashes last week.  Between July 1 and July 6, there were 347 crashes across the state that resulted in 4 fatalities and 113 injuries. Those killed included 1 motorcyclist and 3 other drivers.

Speed and motorcycle enforcement continues until July 12th; seat belt enforcement is scheduled from July 18-31; the pedestrian safety campaign is scheduled from July 10-25 and impaired driving enforcement continues with Checkpoint Strikeforce each week through the end of the year.

A sobriety checkpoint is scheduled for Friday July 11 in Bear.  Last week a total of 86 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence in Delaware.  To date over 2,000 DUI arrests have been made since January 1st 2014.

Motorcycle safety continues to be a major concern for safety official, as there have been 13 motorcycle fatalities this year compared to 8 at this time last year.  Helmet use among motorcyclists has declined.  Of those killed this year only 23% were wearing a helmet compared to 75% last year.  Although Delaware law does not require a rider to wear a helmet, it does require a helmet to be on the motorcycle.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2012 in the U.S., 1,699 lives were saved by motorcycle helmet use.

Delaware also continues the pedestrian safety campaign in Sussex and New Castle counties, urging pedestrians to use crosswalks, sidewalks, and to be visible to motorists in low light or dark conditions.  Officers will be patrolling high pedestrian crash locations and stopping pedestrians who are not walking or crossing safely. Officers will provide the pedestrians with an educational flyer with safe walking tips included.  They will also answer any questions about the pedestrian safety law. There have been 150 pedestrian-involved crashes this year, resulting in 129 pedestrians injured and 9 pedestrians killed.  The majority of these involved pedestrian error, such as stepping into the path of a vehicle or not crossing in a crosswalk or marked intersection.

Speed has also been a factor in many of the crashes this year.  When speeding is coupled with impaired driving, distracted driving, disregarding traffic signals, or other traffic offenses, crashes are more likely to end in fatalities.  The OHS speed campaign is implementing new education and outreach tactics to get motorists to Slow Down and Arrive Alive.  These including working with businesses across the state to place large life-sized signs in high profile locations, posting reminders on social media, and making answers to frequently asked questions available through social media as well.

“Law enforcement officers are writing tickets to save lives,” said Alison Kirk, Community Relations Officer for OHS.  “If you receive a ticket we hope you will pause for a moment the next time you get in your vehicle, remember why you received the ticket and change the behavior that led to the ticket. Yes it may hurt your pocket to pay a fine, but it hurts a lot less than being in the hospital.”

Recently an Elsmere police officer pulled over an 18 year old male for not wearing his seat belt and gave him a ticket.  That same 18 year old, who just graduated from high school, was involved in a serious crash a few days later.  This time he was wearing his seat belt.  His mother, speaking with the investigating officer at the hospital, was aware of her son’s recent seat belt ticket and felt certain that ticket saved his life by making him buckle up.

OHS reminds all drivers to go back to the basics of driving safety:  slow down, don’t drink and drive and always buckle up.  Avoid using illicit, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs before driving.  Plan extra time to get to any destination so you don’t let traffic frustration cause you to make a bad decision behind the wheel.

For updates follow OHS on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE. Campaign specific information can be found at www.DUIrealtime.com, www.BuckleUpDE.org, www.MotorcycleSafetyDE.org.  NHTSA motorcycle information can be found at www.NHTSA.gov/Safety/Motorcycles.

 


The Other ‘D’ Word

Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign begins this weekend

Dover – Not all DUI’s are a criminal act. Take Dancing Under the Influence for example. Sure it’s not pretty, but it’s also not against the law. Driving Under the Influence, on the other hand, that’s illegal and not worth the risk. That is why the Delaware Office of Highway Safety along with law enforcement across the state are cracking down on impaired driving and launching the 14th Annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign this holiday weekend. Last year alcohol was involved in 47% of the 96 fatal crashes, which resulted in 47 individuals killed.

The first checkpoint of the season is scheduled for:

  • Friday July 4th – Newport – (NcCo DUI Task Force) – checkpoint

Sobriety checkpoints will be scheduled to take place each month during the six month long Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign along with DUI saturation patrols. There will also be stepped up enforcement during peak holiday times including Labor Day, Halloween, and the month of December.

Fortunately Delaware has seen a decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities this year compared to this time last year. Seventeen (17) of this year’s 65 traffic deaths (26%) have been alcohol-related. At this time last year there were 50 fatalities and 50% involved alcohol.

The New Castle County DUI Task Force will again be conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the county during the campaign. The DUI Task Force is comprised of officers from the Middletown PD, New Castle City PD, Newark PD, Newport PD, University of Delaware PD, and Wilmington PD. Delaware State Police will also participate and conduct checkpoints in New Castle and Sussex counties.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Ian McConnel conducted one swearing in ceremony for law enforcement participating in the New Castle County DUI Task Force this year. The swearing-in ceremony conducted by the Chief Deputy Attorney General provide the legal justification necessary to allow police officers to make DUI arrests in towns outside their own jurisdiction.

The campaign’s enforcement activities will be supplemented by an all new intense public awareness and education campaign that highlight the fact that there are several types of DUI’s many individuals might fall victim to, including Dancing Under the Influence, Dating Under the Influence, and Dialing Under the Influence, but individuals who decide to Drive Under The Influence are not victims and are committing a criminal act. Paid messages will be placed on T.V., radio spots, billboards, print, online, Pandora, movie theater ads, store floor clings, and website www.DUIRealTime.com. Paid messages will also be included in Spanish print and radio ads. OHS will continue to tally the total number of DUI arrests made each week in Delaware and display the total on billboards in New Castle County and Sussex County and on the website DUIRealTime.com. OHS’s corporate partners will also receive flyers, posters, and table tents to display and help spread the message.

Those convicted of a first time DUI offense in Delaware may spend up to 1 year in prison, and will lose their license, attend an 8-week DUI treatment class and pay thousands of dollars in court, treatment, DMV, and lawyer’s fees.

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive. The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide. Delaware had 4,922 DUI arrests statewide for 2013.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000.  More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.