Police plan checkpoints to catch drunk drivers

Annual campaign set for Aug. 26-Sept. 12

By:Roger Alvarado
   Drunk drivers beware — township police are about to start cracking down on you.
   With Labor Day less than three weeks away, police are set to begin their annual "If you drink and drive, you lose" campaign aimed at getting drunk drivers off the roads.
   Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 12, township police will be out in full force conducting saturation patrols throughout Hillsborough in order to arrest and prosecute violators.
   A sobriety checkpoint will be employed at an undisclosed part of town, Hillsborough Police’s Traffic Safety Bureau Supervisor Sgt. Darren Powell said. "There’s an increase in traffic during the Labor Day period and also picnics and partying that goes along with the holiday weekend and we see a risk," Sgt. Powell said.
   Consequently, police will bet out to "strictly enforce DWI laws" over the 17-day period, Sgt. Powell said. Impaired driving fatalities are on the rise, and heavy enforcement during the Labor Day holiday season has proved to be a deterrent, sending out the strong message that drinking and driving will not be tolerated, police said.
   Violators face the possibility of losing their licenses, losing time from their jobs, and losing money in high fines and court costs, as well as facing imprisonment for repeat offenses, or injuring or killing someone, police said.
   Hillsborough police are reminding the public to think before getting behind the wheel drunk and to choose a sober designated driver before going out.
   Police encourage residents to consider the use of mass transit, a taxicab, or asking a friend to drive them home instead of opting to drive drunk.
   Police are also encouraging residents to report impaired drivers to the police immediately.
   "We would hope that people make a wise choice behind the wheel and drive safely," Sgt. Powell said.
   Hillsborough police held a similar checkpoint during the 2003 July 4th weekend, leading to three DWI charges.