PIERRE — The South Dakota Highway Patrol will be out in force next month holding 20 sobriety checkpoints in July. Hughes and Stanley Counties are two of the 19 counties hosting the checkpoints. Other central South Dakota counties hosting checkpoints in July at Brule and Jackson Counties. The checkpoints are set up to encourage residents to refrain from drinking and driving. The checkpoints are supported through funding from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety and conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol with assistance from local jurisdictions. The public is encouraged to not drink and drive regardless of the status of a checkpoint in their area. People should designate a sober driver or have an alternative way of getting round if alcohol consumption is a part of your plans. Other counties to see sobriety checkpoints in July are Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Charles Mix, Codington, Kingsbury, Lawrence, Lincoln, Meade, Minnehaha, Moody, Pennington, Roberts, Sanborn and Yantkon.
