State Police Announce Sobriety Checks

The Massachusetts State Police will be in Worcester County Saturday evening conducting sobriety checkpoints on public roadways. The checkpoints will be in place late evening April 21 into the early morning hours of Sunday, April 22.

Motorists can expect to be randomly stopped at checkpoints on state roadways during these hours and given sobriety tests by state and local police officers.

"The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways," said Colonel Marian McGovern, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, in a press release. "It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety."

A statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued recently warned drivers against taking the wheel after drinking any alcohol, saying that it could result in harm to yourself and others and legal ramifications of up to $10,000 in legal fees, court costs, and increased insurance rates.

The NHTSA offered several ways to help prevent buzzed driving in the community:

1. Before drinking, plan ahead and designate a sober driver.

2. If you’re impaired, call a taxi, sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.

3. Use your community’s sober ride program.

4. If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate, contact local law enforcement.

5. Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving. If you know people who are about to drive or ride with someone who is impaired, take the driver’s keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

The sobriety checkpoints will be put in place thanks to a grant from the Highway Safety Division of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.