Extra patrols planned for holiday weekend

MIDDLETOWN » As thousands of drivers plan to travel during the extended holiday weekend, Connecticut State Troopers are also preparing to patrol in increased numbers to keep roads and highways safe for all drivers.

July 4 is Tuesday, allowing extra time for beach outings, cookouts and fireworks. This translates to increased traffic from Friday through the evening of July 4, officials said in a release.

Many will be driving through and around Connecticut for Independence Day events and state troopers will be conducting DUI roving patrols and spot checks over the holiday weekend, according to the release.

“Troopers will be strategically placed to reduce speed on the highways and roadways during the holiday period,” Sgt. Eric J. Haglund said in the release. “In addition, state troopers will operate sobriety checkpoints.”

Drivers can expect to experience concentrated enforcement operations at locations where there have been a high number of alcohol-involved crashes and incidents, Haglund said.

In the New Haven area, roving patrols from Troop I will be on Interstate 91 in New Haven and North Haven, Route 8 in Shelton, Ansonia and Derby and Route 15 in Hamden and New Haven areas. Troop G will do patrols on Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) from New York State Line to the Sikorsky Bridge patrol area on Monday only.

In the Torrington area, Troop B will patrols Route 8 and Route 4 in Torrington, Goshen and Sharon; Route 8 and Route 44 in Winsted, Barkhamsted and New Hartford on Saturday; Route 7, 41 and 44 in North Canaan, Falls Village and Norfolk and Salisbury on Sunday; and Routes 44, 202, 219 in Torrington, New Hartford and Barkhamsted on Monday.

Troop L, meanwhile, will patrol the Route 8 corridor between exit 37 in Watertown to exit 42 in Harwinton, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris, Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethlehem, Route 4 in Burlington and Route 72 in Harwinton all weekend.

In the Middletown area, troopers will patrol Route 9 and Route 66 in Middlefield and I-95 and Route 1 and 9. Troop K will do roving patrols in the East Haddam area.

“As always, state police consistently work toward preventing accidents – especially fatal crashes – on Connecticut’s roads and highways,” Haglund said in the release. Troopers will utilize laser units, and both marked and unmarked state police patrol cars to enhance safety and to remove all drunk drivers from Connecticut’s roads, according to the release.

“Obeying the rules of the road is everyone’s responsibility,” Haglund said. “We ask all drivers to buckle up, adhere to the speed limit, put down cell phones, and please be courteous to other drivers.”

During the July 4 weekend last year, Connecticut State Police issued 1,227 tickets for speeding and a total of 2,913 tickets for moving violations. State police made 39 arrests for driving under the influence and investigated 315 motor vehicle crashes, 45 with injury and two fatal crashes where three people died.

Police are reminding residents to designate a sober driver, to call 911 if you suspect a drunk driver and to obey the state’s Move Over Law.

FILE PHOTO A state police car.