Delaware – The Delaware State Police and the Office of Highway Safety in partnership with local law enforcement agencies are committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public. As a result, CheckPoint StrikeForce will be conducted on Saturday, July 14, 2018 with additional Team DUI Enforcement on July 28, 2018.

More than 50 law enforcement officers from across Delaware will assemble at several locations in all three counties to conduct statewide impaired driving checkpoints. The focus will be 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.

If you drink and drive during this Independence Day holiday, or any other time this July, you could lose your independence because there is a high likelihood you’ll be pulled over.

During the month of July, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety will be implementing several countermeasures to combat impaired driving. (A DUI arrest can set you back an average of $10,000 in attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs, and more. It could also result in the loss of your license and possibly even your job.)

On Saturday, July 14th, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., police will be out in full force in Delaware as part of the “CheckPoint StrikeForce” deployment. Delaware State Police will be manning three sobriety check points, one in each county, as follows:

1. New Castle County: Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington
2. Kent County: US 13 in Smyrna
3. Sussex County: Rt. 1 in Rehoboth Beach

There will be at least one Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) at each checkpoint.

Two weeks later, on July 28th, OHS will be funding a DUI team enforcement initiative. Targeting areas shown to have a high occurrence of DUI arrests, nearly 100 law enforcement officers will be traveling in pairs to patrol for impaired drivers.

July is a particularly deadly month for Delaware. From 2013 – 2017, there have been a total of 1,839 DUI arrests, 486 DUI-related crashes, and 24 DUI-related fatalities.

“As you celebrate the summer, we want everyone to think of your family, friends and other drivers traveling on our roads in Delaware. Drink responsibly and discourage others from drunk or buzzed driving. If you feel buzzed, you should not drive. Please have a plan before you go out and pick a designated driver who is responsible and will not drink. The Delaware State Police and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state have teamed together to enhance motorists safety with extra patrols and DUI enforcement at checkpoints in all three counties. Think about the safety of others as more families are traveling on Delaware roads.”

Sergeant Richard Bratz, Delaware State Police, Public Information Director

“This July, don’t let your stars and stripes become bars and stripes. OHS urges motorists to plan ahead. Don’t let a DUI ruin your life. Find a designated driver, call a cab or use a ridesharing service like Lyft.”

Mitch Topal, Office of Highway Safety, Marketing Specialist and Public Information Officer

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Presented by the Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz

Released:070918 0801

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