Thinking about going out for a few beers and unwind at a bar or entertainment venue in Huntsville this weekend?

The Huntsville Police Department will be out in force, cracking down on motorists who have had too much to drink and then get behind the wheel.

The department’s DUI Task Force will conduct traffic safety checkpoints throughout the weekend as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce impaired driving and enhance roadway safety, police announced in a news release.

The series of checkpoints will be held May 2-4. They are the first in a series to be dedicated to the memory of Kathrynn Lively, who lost her life on August 31, 2022, when an impaired driver failed to yield the right of way, resulting in a head on collision with Lively’s motorcycle. The crash occurred as she was traveling southbound on Bailey Cove Road near the Willowbrook Drive intersection.

“We’re honoring Kathrynn’s memory by sharing her story and shedding light on the devastating consequences of impaired driving,” said Sgt. Antonio Shorter of HPD’s DUI Task Force. “This initiative also launches our new Safety Checkpoint Dedication Program, which gives families who’ve lost loved ones a platform to raise awareness and help inspire real change in our community.”

If you are stopped at a traffic safety checkpoint, be prepared to present your driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration to officers.

HPD’s DUI Task Force uses data from the National Alabama Highway Safety Office (NAHSO), which has identified more than 50 traffic crash hotspots across the city. Officers may conduct checkpoints at one or more of the following locations:

• Jordan Lane and Sparkman Drive
• Mastin Lake Road and Pulaski Pike
• Bankhead Parkway and Douglas Lane
• Cecil Ashburn Drive and Old Big Cove Road
• Church Street and Pratt Avenue
• Clinton Avenue and Monroe Street
• University Drive and Old Monrovia Road
• University Drive and Research Park Boulevard        

If you suspect someone is driving under the influence, call HPD’s non-emergency line at 256-722-7100 and provide the location, vehicle and driver description and direction of travel. If there is an immediate threat to public safety, call 911.