Cops ready DUI checkpoints for holiday

Patrols to take place throughout Chester County this weekend

It’s party time and police will be out in force for the Memorial Day weekend looking for impaired drivers.

The Memorial Day weekend is upon us, as is the first holiday travel period of the summer season. This coupled with many college and high school graduations, will see an increase in gatherings to celebrate, often with alcohol. Law enforcement is reminding everyone to make plans now for those weekend trips and celebrations to use a “Designated Driver.”

Chester County law enforcement, in conjunction with the Chester County Impaired Driving Program, will be conducting roving DUI patrols and Sobriety checkpoints throughout Chester County during the period from Friday, May 26 through Monday, May 29, 2017.

The increased enforcement will be focused on highways that have reoccurring incidents of alcohol related crashes and arrests. Sobriety checkpoints and patrols will continue throughout the year at various locations in Chester County where crash and DUI statistics have demonstrated a significant rate of impaired drivers.

Law enforcement region-wide are asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer. Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins. Police urge anyone who sees a dangerous driver to call 911.

State police will have additional patrols out over the holiday weekend looking for aggressive drivers and distracted drivers. State police will continue their “Click It or Ticket campaign through June 4.

“The holiday brings with it an increase in vehicular traffic and the potential for traffic-related injuries and death,” said State Police Capt. Maurice Tomlinson. “With an estimated 660,000 drivers using electronic devices while driving, I ask that you think of the dangers that this behavior poses and put such devices away while driving.”