State parks target drunken drivers

Anyone thinking of mixing a visit to a state park with alcohol and then driving home had better watch out, officials said Thursday.

State park police have set up sobriety checkpoints and are patrolling parks in a campaign to detect and arrest impaired drivers, officials said in a news release. The campaign runs through Labor Day.

"Motorists must recognize how dangerous it is to operate a vehicle while intoxicated or impaired by drugs, particularly at huge events or on crowded roads," Commissioner Carol Ash said in the release.

"Tens of thousands of spectators attend events within state parks, and our roadways and parking fields are filled to capacity with vehicles and pedestrians."

Parks Police Chief Richard O'Donnell said, "If you intend to drink, make arrangements with a sober person to serve as your designated driver."