Less than an hour from now, the Cheshire Police Department will be setting up roadside sobriety checkpoints along state roads in town.

But even in the hours leading up to the the checkpoint, the department has been very visible. At about 2 p.m. this afternoon, I saw a department trick loaded down with traffic cones and all the other equipment needed to set up a checkpoint sitting on Cornwall Avenue, near the intersection with Main Street.

The department will be running sobriety checkpoints through 2 a.m. on Sunday, according to Lt. Brian Pichnarcik, who is the head of the department's traffic division.

Pichnarcik said in a statement that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when checkpoints are conducted. Cheshire officers will be enforcing seat belt, cellphone and other motor vehicle violations at the checkpoint in addition to looking for alcohol and drug-impaired drivers, he said.

CHESHIRE - Police will conduct a safety and sobriety checkpoint for motorists on Friday between 6 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Police Spokesman Lt. James Fasano said department officials are still assessing possible locations for the checkpoint.

“It will either be on Route 10 near the Interstate 691 interchange or somewhere along Route 68,” he said.

While the primary purpose of the checkpoint is to keep intoxicated drivers off the road, Fasano said officers will also be issuing tickets for motorists who are using their cell phones without a hands-free device and those who are not wearing seat belts.