A Maine Department of Transportation Grant has already proven successful for the Damariscotta Police Department.

Sgt. Jason Warlick spoke with the Damariscotta board of selectmen on Wednesday, May 6 about the success of the DriveSober! Maine grant, and some of the department's upcoming plans for enforcement. The department was originally awarded the grant in March.

Warlick said the $10,000 in grant money has been used to cover overtime associated with cracking down on OUIs. But, while most would assume OUI arrests happen late at night on the weekends, that hasn't been the case, Warlick said.

“Of all the OUI arrests we've had, not one has been on the weekend,” he said. “All of them have been on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and none after 9:30 at night.”

Included in those arrests was an early morning accident and arrest in which the driver of a vehicle was allegedly drunk before 9 a.m.

With the summer season starting, there will be new concerns, such as the campgrounds opening up, Warlick said.

“We definitely see an up-tick (in OUI-related arrests) once the campground opens up,” he said. “(There are) three security guards on duty and they do a good job, but it can be overwhelming.”

Warlick said that when campers at Damariscotta Lake come into town, they essentially double- or triple the size of the town. That can put a strain on the department's resources, but usually the department is ready, Warlick added.

One of the enforcement tactics the department has used has been a safety checkpoint. Informally called an OUI checkpoint, the checkpoint stops every car on the road while officers look for safety violations or check for sobriety.

Warlick said the grant money will be used to staff the checkpoint, which will also require three police cars.

“(Because Damariscotta only has two police cars) we would look to get (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office) involved,” Warlick said. “If you have a checkpoint with only two cars and you get two OUIs back-to-back, you basically have to call it a night.”

But with three cars on scene, the department would be able to have the checkpoint stay in place longer.

Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus said there will be another checkpoint soon.

“(The department) is planning on having an enforcement checkpoint over Memorial Day Weekend with the goal of reducing OUIs,” he said.

The Damariscotta Police Department is required to advertise when and where it holds the checkpoint, Warlick said.