NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department carried out two sobriety checkpoints, one Monday night and the second on Tuesday. Monday’s checkpoint resulted in 251 motorists stopped with zero tickets or arrests, and Tuesday’s resulted in 540 stops with five traffic tickets and one arrest for aggravated unlicensed operation.

According to authorities, no DWI arrests were made.

“There is no set standard for the number of arrests from sobriety checkpoints,” said NPD Sergeant Reuben Roach. “In the past, checkpoints have resulted in numerous arrests.”

Roach said the officers stopping motorists are mainly checking for sobriety and to see if the driver may be impaired by substances.

When a motorist is stopped at a sobriety checkpoint, an officer asks if the person has had anything to drink. Motorists are then provided with some educational material regarding the cost of a DWI conviction, along with statistics about drunk driving accidents and deaths.

“I think the materials educate the general public,” said Roach. “It is a deterrent for those who may think about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

According to Sgt. Roach, the officers conducting the stop provide “a courteous greeting followed by a question of whether or not the person is under the influence.” If the officer has sufficient reason to believe the motorist is not under the influence, the driver is handed the educational material and is asked to proceed through the stop.