Stratham and other New Hampshire cities and towns will see increased police patrols this summer, according to the Seacoast Online newsletter. Many of these towns have received grants from the Highway Safety Agency, which will be used to pay overtime for officers conducting extra DWI patrols during the summer months.
Drunk driving, also known as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), is a problem in New Hampshire, according to Stratham’s police chief. Stratham arrested 51 drivers last year on suspicion of drunk driving. The grant money will pay for officers to conduct extra DWI hunter patrols on June 10 and 11; July 22 and 23; and Aug. 19 and 20, 2011, in the hopes of stopping additional impaired drivers.
This grant is one of the first the police officers in Stratham have received that focuses on drunk driving. The town plans to hire an additional police officer to increase the total number on patrol to seven, and to use the DWI hunter patrols to scour the more heavily-traveled roads in the area on the selected summer weekends.
All police officers receive some training in how to spot drivers who may have been drinking. During a New Hampshire DWI patrol, however, an officer’s intense focus on stopping drunk driving may cause every driver he or she sees to look like a potential arrestee – increasing the officer’s chance of making a mistake.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in New Hampshire, please don’t hesitate to contact the New Hampshire drunk driving defense attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We will examine your case carefully and provide an aggressive defense that protects your rights and fights for the best possible outcome in your case. To learn more, call Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at (603) 614-5055.