Dutchess County to Participate in Statewide
STOP-DWI Memorial Day Enforcement Effort
Impaired Driving Crackdown runs May 26-30
Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro announced today Dutchess County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on May 26th and will end on May 30th.
Memorial Day week is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional beginning of summer, and there will also be countless parties and barbeques to celebrate graduations, proms, and more. This combination of factors equates to more people on the road in general and more people specifically driving impaired, with 13% more fatalities than on a non-holiday weekend.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County offers countless recreational opportunities during the summer, but we must ensure our roadways are safe for families, residents and visitors. Impaired driving will not be tolerated in our community. We thank our local law enforcement agencies and officers for partnering with us to enforce our laws and keep our roads safe. I ask motorists not to drink and drive; save a life.”
The New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths during this period.
Executive Molinaro reminds residents and visitors alike to be responsible and commit to keeping our roadways safe by planning ahead when attending holiday gatherings and throughout the summer months.
The Memorial Day Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation with a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets 4th of July and Labor Day Weekend, Halloween and the national Holiday Season in December.
Dutchess County STOP-DWI Coordinator William C. Johnson said, “Law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County have successfully taken numerous impaired drivers off the roads in similar crackdowns. Our top priority is the safety of all motorists, and anyone who jeopardizes another driver’s life by operating a vehicle while impaired will be stopped.”
While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
