Local police will have drunken-driving checkpoints Friday

Several local police departments will conduct DWI checkpoints overnight Friday.

The checks with run from 8 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday, in conjunction with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and multiple other local jurisdictions, Egg Harbor Township police announced Monday.

Township police responded to six fatal crashes so far this year, and 25 that involved impaired drivers, police said.

The checkpoints are announced ahead of time, since the goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of driving after consuming alcohol and/or drugs.

Representatives from the HERO campaign will join this year's efforts.

The HERO campaign honors Ensign John Elliott, a township resident and 1996 EHT High School graduate who was killed by an impaired driver in July of 2000, two months after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.

The HERO campaign encourages everyone to have a designated driver before consuming alcohol or drugs.