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Checkpoint Strikeforce is a six-month enforcement effort sponsored by the National Highway Administration. The campaign, which targets alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers, will take place in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

"Our intention is to keep drunk drivers off the road," said Officer George Mathews, a Greenbelt police spokesman. "We put these announcements out and, hopefully, people won't drive under the influence."

City officers are to conduct a checkpoint from 9 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location.

Law enforcement agencies in jurisdictions participating in the Checkpoint Strikeforce initiative have committed to conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the region. The objectives of the campaign are to deter motorists from driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and to identify and arrest those who ignore the dangers of getting behind the wheel while impaired.

Officers are always on the lookout for impaired driving, with the most visible sign being erratic driving, Mathews said.

"Since their reaction time is slower, it can cause them to swerve or run stop lights. Officers are trained to look for this," Mathews said.

According to the Checkpoint Strikeforce Web site, first-time DUI offenders can be fined up to $1,000, spend up to a year in jail and will have their license revoked for six months. First-time DWI offenders can be fined up to $500, can spend up to 60 days in jail and will have their license suspended for 60 days.

"[Impaired driving] is always a problem and all it takes is one instance for it to be dangerous," Mathews said.

E-mail Jordan Attebury at jattebury@gazette.net