ST. ALBANS, Vt. — Vermont State Police troopers from the St. Albans barracks will join local, county and other state police agencies in running sobriety checkpoints in Franklin County, Vermont, from Nov. 20 through Dec. 31, state police said.

As of Nov. 10, Vermont had recorded 44 fatal crashes on its roads in 2026, killing 48 people, according to state police. Impairment was a contributing factor in 59% of those crashes, and drivers who were not wearing seat belts or were improperly buckled were a factor in 53%, the agency said.

State police said the checkpoints are intended to reduce serious-injury and fatal crashes by finding and arresting impaired drivers and by enforcing the use of seat belts and child car seats.

Beyond the checkpoints, troopers will step up patrols in heavily traveled and high-crash areas, targeting impaired, distracted and aggressive driving, speeding and seat belt violations, according to state police.

State police urged drivers not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to use a sober driver and to buckle up.

State police did not say where in Franklin County or on which dates the checkpoints would be set up.

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