By Jodi Wolfe
Staff Writer

The Allenstown Police Department has begun a series of sobriety checkpoints to find impaired drivers.

They will work with the Pembroke Police Department and the Merrimack County Sheriff 's Office. The departments were granted a Superior Court petition to conduct the sobriety checkpoints, and are receiving funding from the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The checkpoints will be conducted at undisclosed Allenstown locations and continue until September.

Allenstown police are taking an aggressive stand to prevent impaired individuals from getting behind the wheel, said Allenstown Police Sgt. Greg Huard.

"We.ve had pretty good success rate getting arrests . not only for DWI, but other motor vehicle offenses," Huard said about the sobriety checkpoint program.

In 2003, Allenstown police pulled over 163 vehicles at sobriety checkpoints, which resulted in two arrests for driving while intoxicated and four other motor vehicle arrests.

In 2004, during the sobriety checkpoints as well as the rest of year, Allenstown police made 35 drunk-driving arrests and 55 for other motor vehicle offenses.

"It's a problem that continues to grow, and it's our responsibility to keep the roads safe so people aren't in danger," said Huard.

Allenstown police records indicate drunk driving has resulted in an alarming number of deaths and injuries, according to Huard.

"We're out to make it known that if you drink and drive in this town, you're going to get busted," said Huard.

Under a new law, driving while intoxicated is no longer a violation but a Class B misdemeanor. DWI offenders could pay up to $1,200 in fines.