Police departments from around the state are gearing up for the launch of the 14th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign this weekend.
The six-month long campaign will conduct several DUI checkpoints per month through the end of the year, starting this Friday with a checkpoint in Newport.
Enforcement will also increase during during peak holiday times including Labor Day, Halloween, and through the month of December.
Last year, alcohol was involved in nearly half of all fatal accidents - killing 47 people. Fortunately, this year’s alcohol-related fatalities have dropped by 34 percent over this time last year.
First time DUI offenders may spend up to a year in prison, lose their driving license, attend an eight-week DUI treatment class, and pay thousands in various legal fees.
The Office of Highway Safety will also be launching a new public awareness campaign called DUI Real Time that will post billboards in New Castle and Sussex counties displaying the number of DUI arrests made each week.
A total of 4,922 DUI arrests were made statewide in 2013.