Police Ramp Up DUI Patrols for Holidays and Celebrations

Sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols aim to educate and prevent impaired driving

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:04am

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As the summer driving season and holidays approach, police departments across Pennsylvania are increasing DUI enforcement efforts through sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols. The goal is to educate the public and prevent impaired driving, which remains a major factor in crashes and fatalities in the state.

Why it matters

Alcohol and drug-impaired driving continues to be a serious public safety issue, contributing to a significant number of crashes and fatalities in Pennsylvania each year. Police are using a combination of checkpoints and roving patrols to raise awareness and deter impaired driving, especially around holidays and celebrations when alcohol consumption tends to increase.

The details

Police departments are conducting dedicated DUI enforcement campaigns, often in coordination with state and federal agencies, that involve setting up sobriety checkpoints in high-crash areas as well as roving patrols that allow officers to pull over drivers exhibiting signs of impairment. The checkpoints are announced in advance to meet legal requirements, while the roving patrols rely on officers' observations of driver behavior. During stops, officers look for signs of alcohol or drug use, such as the odor of alcohol, slurred speech, or bloodshot eyes, and can conduct field sobriety tests or call in drug recognition experts if needed.

  • The DUI enforcement campaigns typically ramp up around major holidays and celebrations, such as St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
  • In 2024, alcohol was a factor in 22% of fatal crashes in Pennsylvania, down from 25-27% in the previous four years.

The players

Ken Truver

Chief of the Castle Shannon Police Department.

Reginald Harbarger

Lieutenant with the Greensburg Police Department and a drug recognition expert.

Cathy Tress

Regional DUI program administrator with the Pennsylvania DUI Association.

Yasmeen Manyisha

PennDOT safety press officer.

Brian Turack

Chief of the Harrison Township Police Department and a member of the Westmoreland County DUI Task Force.

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What they’re saying

“We don't want to do the enforcement. We will, but we don't want to. This campaign is all about educating the public and doing the safe and responsible thing.”

— Ken Truver, Chief, Castle Shannon Police Department (triblive.com)

“We don't want to arrest people for a DUI. That's not our goal. Our goal as a whole is to get people to stop and use the resources they have to get home safely.”

— Reginald Harbarger, Lieutenant, Greensburg Police Department (triblive.com)

“It's really important that we still have a presence.”

— Yasmeen Manyisha, Safety Press Officer, PennDOT (triblive.com)

What’s next

Police departments will continue to conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols throughout the year, with a particular focus on major holidays and celebrations when impaired driving is more prevalent.

The takeaway

While police would prefer not to make arrests, DUI enforcement campaigns are a crucial tool for raising awareness and deterring impaired driving, which remains a significant contributor to crashes and fatalities in Pennsylvania. By working with the public to promote safe transportation options, these efforts aim to prevent tragedies and save lives.