State Police to Hold Thanksgiving DUI Checkpoints, Additional Patrol

As Connecticut residents prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends the Connecticut State Police are preparing to implement plans for enhancement of enforcement and visibility on all of our highways and roads in Connecticut. Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) is an intricate part of the highway safety plan.

The Connecticut State Police will supplement normal routine patrol personnel with additional Troopers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Troopers will patrol all roads and highways across Connecticut and focus on drunk driving and target aggressive speeding drivers and unsafe operation. 

Thanksgiving eve and day are two of the busiest traffic days of the year. Druing this time last year, the state police issued 2,255 speeding tickets, 151 seatbelt tickets, 80 DWIs and 3,411 hazardous moving violations. There were also 391 accidents, 57 with injury and one fatal.  

Motorists need to remember, not to follow too close, to slow down, stay off your cell phone, buckle-up while driving and report any suspected drunk drivers to police. 

Troopers will staff sobriety checkpoints and conduct many targeted roving DUI patrols. Targeting DUI violators across the state throughout the entire weekend will enhance safety for all. The Connecticut State Police are committed to reducing crashes and making our roads safe for everyone. Troopers will be looking for the violators that cause accidents on Connecticut roads and highways. Every effort to reduce accidents is being taken but, Connecticut Residents are urged to be a part of the pubic safety solution. Residents should remind all young people especially college students returning home the first time this semester, of the laws regarding alcohol consumption by underage people, and also drinking and driving dangers.  

Uniformed Troopers will use non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issuing tickets to reckless distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers if you consume alcohol never get behind the wheel.

Commissioner Reuben Bradford said: “Your Connecticut State Police will work very hard to keep our Connecticut roads and highways safe.  Help us reduce accidents, drive with extra caution this Thanksgiving holiday.  As we do our part through enforcement, please do your part by driving safely.”

“At this busy time of year we urge parents to take the time and talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking,” said Colonel Danny Stebbins Commander of the Connecticut State Police.

The attached document lists the Thanksgiving sobriety checkpoint and patrol schedule. There are no checkpoints near Bethel or the Greater Danbury area, but roving patrol will take place between Danbury and Waterbury.