State police have announced an aggressive campaign against drunken driving before and during the Fourth of July holiday period.

From Wednesday, July 3, through Sunday, July 7, additional state troopers will be working "to ensure the highest possible degree of safety for motorists during the holiday period," according to the news release. Traffic is expected to pick up by Wednesday evening and continue through Sunday evening. Troopers from the Troop E barracks in Montville will patrol throughout the area to detect and apprehend intoxicated drivers.

State police provided the following information about patrols in the Troop E and K areas:

• Troop E: Roving DUI patrols 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. July 3-7

• Troop K: Roving DUI patrols, 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. July 3-7

Police also announced a drunken driving spot check from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. July 5 at Route 2 at Wheeler High School, 297 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington. There will be a B.A.T. Mobile.

In a statement, Lt. Todd Harbeck, commanding officer of Troop E, advised drivers that, in addition to aggressive enforcement of the drunken driving laws, troopers will be strictly enforcing seat belt, distracted driving and other motor vehicle laws.

"Excessive speed, intoxicated drivers, distracted drivers and the lack of seat belt usage needlessly claim the lives of motorists on Connecticut roadways every year," police said. "We will continue to utilize all of the resources at our disposal to identify those operators who violate these laws and will take strict enforcement action against them."

Troopers are reminding drivers to "buckle up, adhere to the speed limit, put down cell phones, and please concentrate on the primary job when behind the wheel — driving."

Police told people planning to drink "to designate a driver so that this festive, enjoyable holiday period does not turn into a tragedy" and reminded people to "not drink and drive, as that is a deadly combination." People who suspect a drunk driver on the road should call 911.

People also reminded people to follow the Move Over Law, which states: “Any operator of a motor vehicle on a highway when approaching one or more emergency vehicles that are stationary or traveling significantly below the posted speed limit and located on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such highway shall (1) immediately reduce speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit, and (2) if traveling in the lane adjacent to the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane containing such emergency vehicle, move such motor vehicle over one lane, unless such movement would be unreasonable or unsafe.”

Over the July 4 weekend in 2018, state troopers issued 995 speeding tickets; 2,530 tickets for violations that included unsafe lane change, following too closely, cellphone use, texting; and 124 tickets for seat belt violations; and made 38 arrests for driving under the influence, according to the release. Troopers investigated 489 motor vehicle crashes, 62 with injury, and three with fatalities.