The Boone County Sheriff’s Department and Columbia Police Department plan to conduct a sobriety checkpoint and saturation patrol between May 1 and 13.

This is part of an effort by the state to detect and subdue intoxicated or impaired drivers, according to a sheriff’s department news release.

Throughout the year, the state selects weekends for checkpoints to be performed.

“They have certain weekends throughout the year that they push for youth alcohol enforcement,” sheriff’s department deputy Nikki Antimi said.

CPD will also be participating in the sobriety checkpoint during the next two weeks. Its main focus is impaired youth.

“During this campaign, the Columbia Police Department will have extra officers conducting saturation patrols for DWI offenders and conduct a sobriety checkpoint during this period,” a CPD news release stated. “The Columbia Police Department received a grant from the Traffic and Highway Safety Division to fund the officers overtime for this campaign.”

Antimi expressed how safety is a main concern.

“We hope by performing checkpoints we can reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road and apprehend those breaking the law,” Antimi said.

The patrol will begin during the late evening hours of the determined days and will end during the early morning hours of the next day.

Motorists encountering the checkpoint should expect little delay, according to a news release.

“We do this several times every year,” Antimi said.