50 DUI arrests made in Delaware

Law enforcement agencies in Delaware made 50 DUI arrests over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, more than three times the number of arrests made last year.

Officers statewide conducted three sobriety checkpoints and added more than 140 DUI patrols throughout the state during the long weekend. Checkpoints were held in Wilmington, Dover, and Magnolia.  

 

Now, law enforcement agencies want people to know that even though the Fourth of July weekend is over, the campaign to prevent driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, known as Checkpoint Strikeforce, is not.

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“No, authorities will not be letting up in the coming weeks,” said Delaware Office of Highway Safety spokesperson Alison Kirk. “There will be Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI enforcement every weekend till New Year’s Eve.”

This upcoming weekend, for example, checkpoints and patrols are scheduled to take place in Newport, Clayton and Smyrna. 

Last year, authorities made 16 DUI arrests, but there were only six additional patrols.

“We had more patrols this year because of the special Fourth of July mobilization,” Kirk said.

Also this year, in addition to the DUI arrests, officers issued seven citations for underage drinking, recovered one stolen vehicle, seized four weapons, apprehended 22 wanted individuals, made 14 drug arrests, 8 felony arrests, issued 50 seat belt citations, and issued 425 citations for various other traffic violations. 

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