Connecticut State Police Prepare for Labor Day Weekend 

Over 35 million drivers are expected to travel across the United States this upcoming Labor Day Weekend, with the vast majority of them traveling by car. Connecticut State Troopers want to remind motorists to expect heavy traffic, exercise caution, allow extra time to reach their destination, don’t text and drive, set GPS destinations prior to traveling, and use a hands-free device when talking on your cellphone/mobile device while operating a vehicle. 

Connecticut State Troopers will be concentrating their enforcement efforts on drunk driving, speeding, seatbelt violations, and distracted driving during the entire Labor Day Weekend. These dangerous driving behaviors claim the lives of our residents every year.

Troopers will utilize both traditional and nontraditional state police vehicles on the roads searching for reckless and intoxicated drivers.  Troopers will man sobriety checkpoints, increase roving patrols and utilize the State Police Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit (BAT Mobile).

Enforcement efforts by Connecticut State Troopers will continue into the next week as more than half-a-million children continue to return to school across Connecticut, with many of those children typically walking or riding the bus to school.

Troopers remind ALL drivers to be especially vigilant watching for pedestrians during the before- and after-school hours. The afternoon hours are particularly dangerous for walking children – over the last decade nationally, nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 p.m.

Under Connecticut state law, it is mandatory that drivers stop for school buses that have their flashing red warning lights activated, whether they are approaching or following the school bus.  Failure to obey this law not only puts our children at great risk, but it carries a hefty penalty for drivers. Fines for passing a school bus that has its flashing red warning lights activated start at $465 for a first offense.   

A final reminder to all drivers: anyone who consumes alcohol should never get behind the wheel; establish a designated driver before your holiday weekend activities begin.  There are no second chances for first time offenders.  On a first offense an Ignition Interlock Device can be installed on your vehicle if you are arrested for DWI and your driver’s license is suspended.

If you see a suspected drunk driver, or hazardous driver, call 911 as this is a true emergency.

DISTRICT/TROOP:                          DATE:                                 ROVING PATROL/CHECKPOINT LOCATION:

      WESTERN

L                                                                09/02/16                               Roving Patrols - 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 Harwinton

                                                                   09/02/16                               DUI Sobriety Checkpoint – Route 8 exit 37 off ramp. This will be in conjunction with Troop A and the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit

                                                                   09/03/16                               Roving Patrols -  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 Harwinton

                                                                    09/04/16                               Roving Patrols - 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 Harwinton

                                                                   09/05/16                               Roving Patrols - 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 Harwinton       

G                                                              09/01/16                               Roving Patrols - Routes 8, 15 and 25 and Interstate 95 in Troop G patrol are

                                                                  09/02/16                               Roving Patrols - Routes 8, 15 and 25 and Interstate 95 in Troop G patrol area 

                                                                  09/04/16                                         Roving Patrols - Routes 8, 15 and 25 and Interstate 95 in Troop G patrol area

                                                                  09/05/16                               Roving Patrols - Routes 8, 15 and 25 and Interstate 95 in Troop G patrol area

A                                                                09/01/16                               Roving Patrols – Greater Danbury and Waterbury within Troop A patrol areas

                                                                   09/02/16                               Roving Patrols - Greater Danbury and Waterbury within Troop A patrol areas

                                                                    09/02/16                               DUI Sobriety Checkpoint - Route 8 exit 37 off ramp. This will be in conjunction with Troop L and the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit

                                                                    09/03/16                               Roving Patrols - Greater Danbury and Waterbury within Troop A patrol areas

B                                                                  09/01/16                                   Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop B patrol area

                                                                     09/02/16                                   Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop B patrol area

                                                                     09/03/16                                   Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop B patrol area

                                                                     09/04/16                               Roving Patrols - Within the greater Troop B patrol area

CENTRAL

H                                                                  09/01/16                               Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop H patrol area

                                                                     09/02/16                               Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop H patrol area

                                                                     09/03/16                               Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop H patrol area                                                  

                                                                 09/04/16                               Roving Patrols – Within the greater Troop H patrol

area

I                                                                    09/01/16                               Roving Patrols – In Troop I patrol area

                                                                     09/02/16                               Roving Patrols – In Troop I patrol area

                                                                     09/03/16                               Roving Patrols – In Troop I patrol area

                                                                     09/03/16                               DUI Sobriety Checkpoint – Interstate 691Exit 3 off-ramp in Cheshire.  This will be in conjunction with the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit.

                                                                     09/04/16                               Roving Patrols – In Troop I patrol area

                                                                     09/05/16                               Roving Patrols – In Troop I patrol area

                                                                           09/03/16                                 DUI Sobriety Checkpoint – Route 66 at Hunt Road in Columbia.  This will be in conjunction with the Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit

                                                                           09/04/16                               Roving Patrols - Routes 2, 2A, 12, 164, and 165, 214, Interstates 95 and 395 in East Lyme, Griswold, Groton, Lisbon, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Preston, Stonington, and Waterford

                                                                           09/05/16                                Roving Patrols - Routes 2, 2A, 12, 164, and 165, 214, Interstates 95 and 395 in East Lyme, Griswold, Groton, Lisbon, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Preston, Stonington, and Waterford