Law enforcement officers also will take part in the "You Drink and Drive, You Lose 2006" year-end crackdown
By John Tredrea
On Saturday, Dec. 16, the Hopewell Township Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint beginning at 9 p.m. and ending on Sunday, Dec. 17 at approximately 2 a.m.
The sobriety checkpoint will be conducted on Route 31 North, at the Pennington Circle.
Chief George Meyer reports that the department has experienced a "disproportionately high number of crashes along this section of roadway, many of them serious, and some involving alcohol. The purpose of the checkpoint is to educate motorists about alcohol- related motor vehicle offenses."
Individuals passing through the checkpoint will receive information packets regarding alcohol-related offenses. The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will provide the information. The goal of the program is to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high visibility enforcement, and to arrest motorists who choose to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
In addition, from now through Jan. 2, law enforcement officers from the township department will step up impaired driving enforcement as part of the "You Drink and Drive, You Lose 2006" year-end crackdown.
Chief Meyer reports that in 2004 members of the township department affected 64 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Fifteen involved motor vehicle crashes. In 2005 the department affected 87 arrests for DWI (once again, 15 involved motor vehicle crashes). This year to date the department has affected 60 DWI arrests (eight involving motor vehicle crashes).
Impaired drivers kill nearly 18,000 people on national roads each year, police say. In New Jersey for 2005, 252 of the 748 motor vehicle fatalities, or 34 percent, were alcohol related. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by others as a threat to their families and themselves.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the campaign give the following advice:
If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver before going out.
Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
Spend the night where the activity is held.
Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.
Always buckle up, it’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

