As a result of the increasing incidents of drinking and driving, the New Hampshire State Police, in cooperation with the Portsmouth Police Department, applied for, and were granted, a Superior Court Petition to conduct a Sobriety Checkpoint. The "Sobriety Checkpoint" is one of the most effective methods of detecting and apprehending the impaired driver.



The program, approved by the NH Highway Safety Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, provides federal highway safety funds to support this checkpoint, which will be conducted in Portsmouth.



A review of records has shown that the use of alcohol by individuals who operate motor vehicles has resulted in an alarming number of deaths and personal injury accidents. Therefore, in an effort to maintain safe roads in Portsmouth and its surrounding communities, the New Hampshire State Police, Troop A, along with the Portsmouth Police Department, will be conducting two Sobriety Checkpoints in the Portsmouth area during the week of August 13-19, 2012



The purpose of the Sobriety Checkpoint is to detect and apprehend the impaired driver. NH State Police Troop A Commander Lieutenant Gary Wood and Chief David Ferland of the Portsmouth Police



Department have taken an aggressive stance to prevent persons from driving when intoxicated. New Hampshire has some of the most aggressive laws in the country to fight the intoxicated driver and the law enforcement community will use those tools to their full extent.