PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol has announced that sobriety checkpoints will be conducted in 21 counties throughout the month of May. The enforcement effort, which includes Pennington County and the Rapid City area, is designed to discourage impaired driving and improve overall roadway safety.

Checkpoints are scheduled for the counties of Brule, Butte, Codington, Davison, Edmunds, Hamlin, Hanson, Jackson, Jerauld, Lawrence, Lincoln, Meade, Minnehaha, Moody/Lake, Pennington, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Stanley, and Yankton.

“The enforcement effort is aimed at reducing impaired driving and improving roadway safety,” the Highway Patrol stated in the announcement.

Funding for these operations is provided by the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. The Highway Patrol will carry out the checkpoints in coordination with local law enforcement agencies to monitor traffic in and around Rapid City and other regions across the state.

State officials remind motorists to make responsible choices and avoid driving after consuming alcohol, regardless of whether a checkpoint is specifically planned for their immediate area. Drivers who plan to drink are encouraged to arrange for a designated sober driver or utilize public or commercial transportation services