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State Police Phasing Out DUI Checkpoints, Starting New Program

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- State police in Westmoreland and Indiana counties are cracking down on drunk drivers, with a new program called "Spear."

State police will conduct less DUI checkpoints and instead will do more roving patrols.

They say checkpoints have become less effective because people warn others via social media, but roving patrols will allow them to focus their efforts on problem areas.

Troopers say that DUI crashes account for up to a third of all fatal crashes.

"We're putting troopers out there that are experienced, specifically, and trained in DUI enforcement. We're going to be having these guys rove around so that we don't have to worry about any checkpoints and things of that nature," State Police Tooper Steve Limani said.

State police will use statistics from previous years to determine when and where to target their roving patrols.

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