The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, Bethlehem, has announced the official Thanksgiving Holiday Enforcement Period will continue until 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

This safety initiative, Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement Education Program, targets drivers who aggressively operate their motor vehicle in a manner which is dangerous to members of the public, which includes speeding, seat belt violations and child seat belt infractions. Troopers will be concentrating their efforts on distracting drivers who violate the following statutes: texting while driving, handheld mobile telephone, prohibiting use of hearing impairment devices, prohibiting text-based communications, careless driving and reckless driving.

In addition, Selective Traffic Enforcement Against Drunk Drivers and Drug Recognition Expert troopers will specifically focus on apprehending motorists who operate their motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During the Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Enforcement Period of 2022, troopers investigated a total of 80 crashed and made 27 DUI arrests.

Crash data from a year ago showed: crashes, 80; persons injured, 26; and alcohol-related crashes, 5. Enforcement data showed: DUI arrests, 27; speeding citations issued, 342; child passenger seat citations issued, 21; seat belt citations issued, 47; occupant protection warnings issued, 62; other traffic citations issued, 1,163; and self-initiated criminal arrests made, 17.

A DUI Checkpoint will be conducted by members of the Bethlehem barracks from Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26 within Northampton County. A sobriety checkpoint is a traffic safety checkpoint wherein troopers systematically stop vehicles at selected locations to briefly observe drivers for articulate facts and/or behaviors normally associated with alcohol and drug impairment.