The holiday season brings many reasons to celebrate. Yet when the celebrating goes too far, lives can be put at stake.

According to Westport Police Captain Sam Arciola, it is normal for the number of DUI infractions to spike during holiday seasons such as the week of Christmas, Fourth of July weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend.

 For this reason, the Westport Police Department has put additional officers on the roads, and plans set up additional DUI checkpoints during the weeks surrounding the winter holidays.  

“During the holiday season we try to match awareness with public safety,” said Lieutenant Arthur Belile. “We’re not out to get people for revenue or statistical generating programs like many people think.”

Prior to a DUI checkpoint being set up, the checkpoints are publicized in the newspaper or online.  Officers must also post signs to aware drivers of the checkpoint 500 feet in each direction. ]

While this may allow some drunk drivers to avoid the checkpoints, the law mandates such publicity for the checkpoints.

To be as efficient as possible, the Westport Police Department commonly uses state routes where there is primarily a lot of traffic.    

“This type of aggressive enforcement has helped us decrease the number of DUI infractions over the past few years,” Arciola said.

According to Arciola, Westport saw a significant decrease in the percentage of DUI infractions from 2009 to 2010.

Underage drinking and driving arrests do occur in Westport, however according to Arciola these infractions make up a minority of total DUI arrests. Nine percent of Westport’s DUI infractions in 2010 were drivers under 21 years of age, said Arciola.

Heightened enforcement during the holiday season is not meant to solely target intoxicated driving, but to create safer roadways as a whole during such a busy time of year.

Jay Kaplan ’12 has changed his driving habits due to increased police presence on the roads in the past month.

“I definitely noticed more cops hanging out in side streets and parking lots to catch people speeding recently, and I’ve been especially careful since I was caught [speeding],” Kaplan said.

By policing the roadways, Westport’s officers want to ensure that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

“Our most important message is that people can enjoy the holidays, but do it safely and not drink and drive,” Arciola said.