Latest news with #NorthCentralRegionalDUIEnforcementProgram
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police in Berks warn of checkpoints, DUI patrols through graduation party season
Checkpoints, roving DUI patrols and undercover details at stores that sell alcoholic beverages are in the works in Berks County for the rest of June, a time when high school graduation parties are typically held, officials announced. The enhanced enforcement follows a month in which local police took about two dozen impaired drivers off the roads in Berks on a single night in sobriety checkpoints, officials said. While police congratulate the 2025 graduates and encourage them to celebrate with friends and family, they remind them of the zero-tolerance policy for underage drinkers under Pennsylvania law. The checkpoints and DUI patrols are being conducted with the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program, which equips, funds and coordinates the municipal police DUI enforcement in Berks, Schuylkill and 12 other counties. The program is funded through grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Adults also face arrest if they are caught serving alcohol to a person under the age of 21. That's in addition to their liability for hosting a party in which alcohol is available to minors. Police may also be posing as store employees to catch those buying alcohol for minors, a program known as 'Cops in Shops.' While the latest waves of enforcement have focused on drinking activities surrounding proms and graduation events, anyone who drives while impaired risks arrest. Three checkpoints were conducted the same night in mid-May, one in Cumru Township and two others hosted jointly by the Eastern Berks Regional and Exeter Township police departments. Combined, police made 25 DUI arrests. In just two hours on Route 100 in Colebrookdale Township, officers arrested seven drivers for suspected DUI. Later that night, officers moved the checkpoint to Route 422 in Exeter where they made five more arrests. 'Everyone was surprised by the number of encounters with impaired drivers,' Eastern Berks Police Chief Barry Leatherman said. 'It tells us a lot about the amount of impaired driving out there.' While catching impaired drivers is the goal of checkpoints, locations of which are determined by data on DUI-related crashes, police would rather make no arrests, which would indicate a scarcity of impaired drivers, Leatherman said. 'The reality is if people are breaking the law by doing this (driving after consuming alcohol or using controlled substances) they need to be caught because they're endangering the lives of everyone on the road,' he said. Young people need to think about potential deadly consequences of impaired driving, Leatherman said. 'The thought of getting arrested or losing your license really pales in comparison to the human toll,' he said.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Berks law enforcement: Winning game plan gets you and guests home safely after Super Bowl
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is teaming up with Berks County police departments to urge those enjoying Super Bowl festivities or their guests to get home safely. If you're heading out to a Super Bowl party and plan to drink alcohol, make sure you plan for a designated driver, said Sgt. David Bentz of the Exeter Township Police Department's traffic safety unit. Bentz is also the Berks County coordinator for the federally funded North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program. The slogan of this year's campaign is Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk. 'Super Bowl is a special night each year for our community to come together to celebrate, but we need responsible drivers on our roads,' Bentz said in a release. 'If you are planning to be away from home during Super Bowl LIX, make a game plan to ensure you don't find yourself without a designated driver if you need one. 'If you're hosting a party, make sure you take care of your designated drivers. Remind your friends and family: Fans don't let fans drive drunk.' Drunken driving can have a range of consequences, including the possibility of causing a traumatic crash. These crashes could cause you, someone you love, or a total stranger to suffer serious injuries or death. If you're hosting a Super Bowl party, prepare plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for your guests and the designated drivers. Ask your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance. Remind drinking guests that they have a long evening ahead of them, and encourage them to pace themselves, to eat food, and to drink plenty of water. Another important reminder: Never serve alcohol to minors. If an underage person drinks and drives, the person who provided the alcohol can be held liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver. If you're planning to be a designated driver, Bentz said, know that you're the night's MVP. Commit to a sober evening — people are relying on you. If you are attending a party or are at a bar or restaurant, enjoy the food, the company and the nonalcoholic drinks. Encourage other designated drivers on social media by using the hashtag #DesignatedDriver. Bentz said your positive influence could help keep them on the right track. If someone you know has been drinking and tries to drive, take their keys and help them get home safely.
