As part of their continuing effort to reduce alcohol- and drug-related traffic fatalities and injuries, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Regional Operations Command-East will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint this Friday night on East Capitol Street.
|
WHAT:
|
A checkpoint to identify motorists who are alcohol- or drug-impaired |
|
WHERE:
|
East Capitol Street* |
|
WHEN:
|
Beginning at approximately 10:00 pm on Friday, August 27, lasting until approximately 4:00 am on Saturday, August 28 |
The United States Park Police are joining the Metropolitan Police in this life-saving initiative. Mobile processing and testing equipment recently acquired by the U.S. Park Police will be utilized at the sobriety checkpoint. As a result, productivity at the checkpoint will be maximized, and inconvenience to the motoring public will be minimized.
The number of traffic fatalities in the District of Columbia declined almost 8 percent in 1998 in comparison to 1997. However, 22 percent of the 59 traffic fatalities last year involved alcohol or drug impairment. This was an increase over alcohol- and drug-related traffic fatalities in 1997.
*Note: Disclosing the exact location of this checkpoint prior to execution would be counterproductive. However, any members of the news media who are interested in helping to combat alcohol- and drug-impaired driving by publicizing the Department's efforts at this checkpoint may contact Captain Evelyn Primas at 202-645-4055 prior to the checkpoint, or Sgt. Joseph Gentile, at 202-727-4383.