The Connecticut State Police will increase motor vehicle enforcement efforts over the July 4th hoilday weekend in an effort to provide maximum coverage of all roads and highways.

     As part of the C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) the Connecticut State Police will be strategically positioning additional State Troopers and equipment throughout the entire state to provide enhanced safety on all highways and roads in Connecticut.

     During this July 4^th enforcement operation State Troopers will utilize our aircraft, non-traditional patrol cars, marked patrol cars and unmarked patrol cars. 

     The focus of this enforcement is to increase the safe operation of all motorists on the roads. Troopers will focus enforcement on the aggressive drivers, excessive speed, following too close, unsafe lane changing, use of non hands-free cell phones while driving and failure to wear seatbelts.

     Traditionally drunk driving arrests are a large part of this operation. In 2008, Connecticut State Troopers arrested 65 people for DUI over the July 4th holiday. These drunk drivers endanger all motorists on our roads.

     State Police will conduct several sobriety checkpoints and target specific patrols in areas where Troopers traditionally see drunk driving accidents and in areas where Troopers locate and arrest DUI violators.  (see list below)

     Connecticut State Troopers remind all motorists to designate a non-drinking driver to provide safe transportation from holiday parties and celebrations. Remember a drunk driving arrest means a custody arrest, a jail cell, court appearances, and insurance issues to name just a few. 

     Motorist are reminded that the use hands free cell phone devices is the only legal way to talk on cell phones while driving on Connecticut.

     If you see a suspected drunk or aggressive driver report it immediately - that is a true emergency.

DISTRICT/TROOP         DATE                   CHECKPOINT LOCATION:

       WESTERN

             G                 07/03/09           Sobriety Checkpoint in conjunction with

                                                       the Bridgeport and Trumbull Police

                                                       Departments. The checkpoint will be

                                                       at the intersection of Routes 25

                                                       and 111 in Trumbull. 

             A                 07/03/09           Roving patrols in Troop A patrol area

                            07/04/09           Roving patrols in Troop A patrol area

                              07/05/09           Roving patrols in Troop A patrol area

                                                     Sobriety Checkpoint assisting

                                                     Troop L in Litchfield

     CENTRAL

             I                  07/03/09          Sobriety Checkpoint, I-91 Entrance

                                                       Ramp from Willow Street/Blatchley

                                                       Avenue, New Haven. Also I-91

                                                       Southbound, Exit 3 off-ramp

                                                       in New Haven.

        EASTERN

            C                07/04/09          Roving patrols, I-84, Routes 30, 32, 44,

                                                    74, 190, and 195 in Ashford, Mansfield, 

                                                    Somers, Stafford, Tolland,

                                                    Union and Vernon

            D                07/04/09         Sobriety Checkpoint

                                                    Routes 6 and 169 in Brooklyn

            E                07/03/09          Sobriety Checkpoints

                                                    Routes 2 and 2A in Preston

            K                07/04/09          Roving patrols, to include the Route 2

                                                    corridor between Marlborough and

                                                    Colchester; Route 2 in Lebanon

                                                    and Bozrah; Route 6 in Bolton, Andover

                                                    and Columbia; Route 32 in Franklin

                                                    and Windham

##end##

LT. J. Paul Vance