Delaware Launching Annual Sobriety Checkpoint Campaign

Delaware authorities are holding the state’s first sobriety checkpoint for drivers this weekend.

The first checkpoint for the 14th annual checkpoint campaign is scheduled for Friday, the Fourth of July, in Newport.

Last year, police say alcohol was involved in 47 percent of 96 fatal crashes, which resulted in 47 deaths.

Sobriety checkpoints will be scheduled to take place each month during a six-month campaign. There will be stepped up enforcement during peak holiday times, including Labor Day, Halloween and the month of December.

Delaware authorities say alcohol-related fatalities are down this year, compared to this time last year. Seventeen of this year’s 65 traffic deaths have been alcohol-related. At this time last year, there were 50 fatalities and 50 percent involved alcohol.