Warm weather often invites longer days, more socializing with friends, and much more time spent on outdoor patios. It seems that these factors contribute to an increase in the number of happy hours or late nights at the bar. For whatever reason, the weather getting warmer tends to translate into more drivers throwing back a few drinks before heading home for the day. As Mother Nature’s roadside hazards finish melting and finally disappear for the season, irresponsible drivers pose a new threat: inebriation. There can be little doubt that many stories of drunk driving often end with a tragic lesson. Massachusetts State Police are now attempting to incorporate a bit of education into every traffic stop in which a suspect is alleged to be inebriated. For the first time on a large scale, police are attempting to use sobriety checkpoints across the state as tools to educate the public about the decision and consequences that accompany drinking and driving. Massachusetts State Police are now resuming their sobriety checkpoints and attempting to spread some knowledge along the way.
The State Police will conduct an average of 70 to 80 checkpoints per year in varying locations throughout Massachusetts. The exact time and location of the checkpoints are not revealed to the public – so as not to encourage drunk drivers to simply use a different route to avoid a citation – but the county and date of the checkpoint are both released. The goal is to place a high concentration of police officers in an area where accidents regularly occur or a historically high level of DUIs or DWIs have been cited. The funding comes from federal grants and the checkpoints are paired up with public awareness campaigns and educational programs in schools. The most common times for checkpoints are those that are associated with a high rate of drunk driving. This is typically between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. In 2014, there were 75 checkpoints set up around the state leading to 493 arrests for driving under the influence. State Police Spokesman David Procopio called the plan “a multilayered approach to combating drunk driving.”
Drunk Driving and You
Driving drunk is an incredibly risky decision. An inebriated driver lacks the motor skills to stop before rear-ending another driver, stay in their lane to avoid oncoming traffic, or even make proper turns without causing a collision. These selfish decisions have the ability to gravely alter the life of the driver and others involved in the accident. Unfortunately it is often sober drivers or passengers who are affected by the reckless decisions of a drunk driver. Collisions involving inebriated drivers are often severe. Bodily injuries sustained from a car accident can take months or even years to recover from, and sometimes the injuries are permanent. All the while an injured person has to deal with insurance companies and medical bills. Fortunately, you do not have to fight that battle alone. Recovering compensation for injured victims is the work of Peter Ventura. If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver, contact attorney Peter Ventura today for a free consultation at 508-755-7535 or contact us online.
