Operation SANTA: Stop-Another-Needless-Tragic-Accident

STATE POLICE PLAN 2014 HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT

The Connecticut State Police has launched the 2014 Holiday enforcement program in an attempt to save lives and prevent injury as the Christmas/New Year’s holiday season approaches. 

Operation S.A.N.T.A. S-top A-nother N-eedless T-ragic A-ccident is the major holiday accident and injury prevention message from the Connecticut State Police.

This combined accident reduction effort (C.A.R.E.) involves all State Police Departments across the U.S. The focus of this enforcement will be on the drivers behavior that most frequently causes accidents. Enforcement will also attempt to rid the roads and highways of drivers who will drive under the influence, speed, and fail to wear seatbelts.

DUI enforcement will increase dramatically during this holiday season. Traditionally at this time of year, many holiday celebrations such as house and office parties take place. 

Many of these parties MAY include the consumption of alcohol. Some partygoers will not designate a non-drinking driver and will neglect to remember that mixing alcohol with driving any motor vehicle is unwise, dangerous and illegal.  

State Police Troopers have scheduled DUI sobriety checkpoints and enhanced DUI enforcement operations on the roads and highways all across Connecticut.

Click HERE to see list of roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints.

Emergency Services & Public Protection Commissioner Dora Schriro said, “Our State Troopers are trying to save lives and keep all of our roads and highways safe. Remember mixing alcohol with driving any vehicle is a dangerous combination for everyone, and illegal in our State.”

No one looks forward to spending time in a jail cell, a hospital, or someplace worse during the holidays. Connecticut State Troopers will be out in force to try to keep drunk drivers off the roads.

Troopers are asking the public to join our effort, if you are planning to consume alcohol at a festive event, make plans in advance for a non-drinking driver to bring you home. 

If you spot a suspected drunk driver, call 911 and report it to the police, as this is a true emergency.

Distracted driving, cell phone use, speeding and not wearing seat belts will be an important part of “OPERATION SANTA” 2014 enforcement. These violations all contribute to the cause of accidents. Troopers are asking all motorists to obey the laws and help the Connecticut State Police keep all roads and highways safe. 

~Lt. J. Paul Vance

Public Information Officer

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection &
the Connecticut State Police

STATE POLICE OPERATION S.A.N.T.A. 2014
* FINAL Statistics * 

The following are the State Police Christmas (Operation SANTA) holiday enforcement statistics. 

The statistics from Tuesday, 12/23/2014 at 12:01 a.m. through Friday, 12/26/2014  at 11:59 p.m. are as follows:

Accidents:  279
Accidents with injury: 38
Accidents with fatalities:  1  Car vs. Pedestrian Beacon Falls

Moving Violations
DUI arrests: 19
Speeding: 243
Seatbelt: 13
Hazardous Moving violations (following too close, distracted driving, cell phones, etc.): 706

Troopers observed a high traffic volume over the 2014 Christmas holiday. This State Police enforcement effort will continue as we approach the New Year’s Eve Holiday Celebration. Troopers will continue to conduct enforcement patrols throughout the state on both highways and secondary roads.

In addition, sobriety checkpoints will also be set up in an effort to deter anyone from the consumption of alcohol and driving as we approach and celebrate the New Year.

     ...If anyone sees a suspected drunk driver, please call 911 and immediately report it! 

2013 Statistics:

Accidents: 249
Accidents with injury 28
Accidents with fatalities: 0

DUI arrests: 18
Speeding:  301
Seatbelts: 4
Hazardous moving violations: 601