State and local police are already doing brisk business nabbing drivers who have been drinking this holiday weekend.
Trooper Giancarlo Ardolino says Independence Day is among the busiest times of year for such offenses.
"It's up there especially with the nice weather we're having lately," Ardolino said Friday night.
In fact, he says he actually expects to encounter at least one or two alcohol-affected drivers during his shift, even though he's doing routine speed patrol, not manning a sobriety checkpoint.
"With the amount of cars out there, you've got a good chance of running in to someone who's been drinking and driving," the 11-year veteran says of the Fourth of July weekend.
DUI checkpoints are as much a part of Independence Day as barbecues and fireworks. Almost every local police department NBC Connecticut contacted says it will be holding sobriety roadblocks throughout the weekend.
"Especially with the long weekend," Ardolino said, "we have a lot of cars coming in and out of Connecticut."
Asked how far people will go to avoid a drunken driving arrest, Ardolino says troopers know every trick in the book.
"There's a lot of videos out there, people learning from, trying to get out of a DWI test. There are certain tests that you can't fake," he said.
With so much at stake, Ardolino offers advice straight out of driver's education, urging those behind the wheel to be patient, alert and, of course, sober.
"Zero tolerance; it's not worth it," he said. "Just make sure we all get back home to our family at the end of the day, and have a great weekend."
