July 21, 2008

Sobriety Checkpoint in Chesterfield

As a result of the increasing incidents of drinking and driving, the New Hampshire State Police applied for, and was granted, a Superior Court Petition to conduct a Sobriety Checkpoint.  The “Sobriety Checkpoint” is an effective method of deterring, detecting and apprehending the impaired operator.

The program, approved by the NH Highway Safety Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, provides federal highway safety funds to support these checkpoints, which will be conducted in Chesterfield.

A review of records has shown that the use of alcohol by individuals who operator motor vehicles has resulted in an alarming number of deaths and personal injury accidents.  Therefore, in an effort to maintain safe roads in Cheshire County, the New Hampshire State Police, in conjunction with the Chesterfield Police Department, will be conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint in the Chesterfield area during the last two weeks of July.

The purpose of the Sobriety Checkpoint is to deter, detect and apprehend the impaired driver.  Troop C Commander Lieutenant Jerome Maslan, Cheshire County Attorney Peter Heed, and Chesterfield Police Chief Lester Fairbanks have taken an aggressive stance to prevent persons from driving while intoxicated.  New Hampshire has some of the most aggressive laws in the country to fight the intoxicated driver and the law enforcement community will use those tools to their full extent.

A Press Conference will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cheshire County Courthouse to discuss the details of the checkpoint.