Labor Day 2019 DUI Checkpoints In Connecticut: When And Where

CONNECTICUT — Millions of 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 are reminding 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.

Starting at 12 midnight on Friday, Aug. 30, and continuing through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2, extra Troopers will be on patrol ensuring safe driving so that accidents will be prevented.

"The priority of all operators should be arrival at their destination in a safe manner. Give yourself plenty of time to drive, plan for traffic delays and proceed with caution. Obeying the rules of the road is everyone's responsibility," noted Colonel Stavros Mellekas, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police, said in a news release.

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 motorists, passengers and pedestrians every year, State Police said.

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 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.

This year troopers are particularly keen on reminding motorists to designate a driver if they plan to drink alcohol. Motorists who suspect they spy a drunk driver on the road are urged to contact 911.

"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. If you see a suspected drunk driver, or hazardous driver, call 911 as this is a true emergency," State Police said in a news release.

Enforcing the Move Over Law, which mandates that drivers slow down and/or change lanes when approaching emergency vehicles that may be traveling slowly or are stationary on the side of the road, is also high on their holiday weekend list of enforcement priorities.

TROOP A

August 30-Sept. 2

7 p.m. – 4 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Troop A patrol area

August 31

*******7 p.m. – 3 a.m. DUI Checkpoint & BAT mobile Interstate 84 westbound, exit 18 off ramp to Highland Avenue, Waterbury

TROOP B

August 30

7 p.m. – 3 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Rt. 8 and Rt. 4 (Torrington/Goshen/Sharon)

August 31

7 p.m. – 3 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Rt. 8 and Rt. 44 (Winsted/Barkhamsted/ New Hartford)

Sept. 1

7 p.m. – 3 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Rt. 7 and Rt. 44 (North Canaan/Falls Village/Norfolk)

Sept. 2

7 p.m. – 3 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Rt. 44 and Rt. 7 (Canaan/Salisbury)

TROOP C

August 30, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 4 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Troop C patrol area

TROOP D

Aug. 30 & 31, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 4 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Troop D patrol area

TROOP E

August 30, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 4 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Troop E patrol area

TROOP F

Aug. 30 & 31, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 3 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Routes 9 & I-95 in Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, Essex, Chester, Deep River, Haddam & Killingworth.

TROOP G

August 30

7 p.m. – 3 a.m.: Roving DUI patrols Interstates 95 and 91, Route 34 in the greater New Haven area

August 31

7 p.m. – 3 a.m.: Roving DUI patrols Interstate 95, Routes 8 & 25 Bridgeport, Stratford, Trumbull area

September 1

7 p.m. – 3 a.m.: Roving DUI patrols Interstate 95 in the Stamford/Norwalk/Greenwich area; Route 7 in Norwalk area

September 2

7 p.m. – 3 a.m.: Roving DUI patrols Route 15 (Merritt Pkwy) from NY state line to Sikorsky Bridge

TROOP H

Aug. 30 & 31, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 3 a.m.: Roving DUI patrols Interstate 84 & 91 in Hartford; I-84 in West Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester and Windsor

TROOP I

*****Sept. 1

7 p.m. – 3 a.m.: DUI Checkpoint Route 40 connector, at the intersection of Route 10. Troopers will be partnering with Hamden Police for this check point.

Roving DUI patrols Route 8 Shelton to Waterbury

TROOP K

Aug. 30 & 31, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 4 a.m.: Roving DUI patrols Troop K patrol area

TROOP L

Aug. 30 & 31, Sept. 1 & 2

7 p.m. – 4 a.m. Roving DUI patrols Route 8 corridor between exits 37 & 42; 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 Bethel; Route 4 in Burlington & Harwinton; Route 72 in Harwinton

During the 2018 Labor Day 2018 weekend, Connecticut State Troopers issued 1,314 tickets for speeding, 2,474 tickets for hazardous moving violations, 47 tickets for seatbelt violations and made 24 arrests for driving under the influence. Troopers also investigated 281 motor vehicle crashes, 63 with injury, and no fatalities.