One highway safety officer described long holiday weekends as “particularly busy times on our highways,” and cited the need to remind motorists of the hazards of impaired driving as one of the rationales for the checkpoint set up late evening, Sept. 1, by the Lehigh County DUI Task along Route 100 in Macungie.

About two dozen law enforcement personnel from several Lehigh County municipalities participated in the checkpoint to check for motorists who were driving impaired by alcohol or drugs.

As host municipality, officers from the Macungie Police Department were the greeting officers where motorists were stopped. Officers explained to the driver why the motorists were being stopped while another officer checked the vehicle perimeter for suspicious items. Most motorists were cooperative and expressed gratitude officers were working to keep highways safe.

The officers’ training helped them spot behaviors consistent with impaired driving. Those suspected of impairment were asked to step out of their vehicles and were escorted to the command trailer where their operator’s license, vehicle registration and insurance were verified through state databases. Operators were also checked for outstanding arrest warrants.

Trained officers then performed field sobriety tests to determine whether an arrest was warranted. Those arrested were then transported to Central Booking for blood test verification of impairment and an overnight stay.

Three hundred and twenty eight drivers were contacted at the checkpoint during its duration. Three DUI arrests were made and another six motorists were tested and found not to be impaired and were released.