102 people arrested statewide last week for DUI

As summer begins to wind to a close, the numbers of Delaware travelers caught driving under the influence keeps going up.

Last week, 102 people were arrested across the state for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Office of Highway Safety. Of those 102 people, six were arrested at DUI checkpoints held by the New Castle County DUI Task Force said Community Relations Officer Alison Kirk.

This Friday, as part of Checkpoint Strikeforce’s saturation patrols, which aim to take impaired drivers off the road through highly visible enforcement, the task force will target Newark.

So far this year, 2,514 people were arrested for DUI. This past weekend, one person was charged with his fifth DUI offense, a felony charge, Kirk said.

A list of DUI checkpoints is available by texting CHECKPOINT to 99000, Kirk said. A list of cabs for those who want to avoid drinking and driving is also available by texting the word TAXI to the same number.

The public education and awareness campaign uses the themes of happy hour, nightcaps and last call to stress that an arrest for driving under the influence “can redefine your night and your life,” Kirk said.

More information about the campaign is available at www.ohs.delaware.gov andwww.DUIRealTime.com. For regular updates, she suggests checking www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE and subscribing to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.