Dutchess County to Participate in Statewide
STOP-DWI Halloween Crackdown Enforcement Effort
Impaired driving crackdown runs Oct. 27st through Nov. 1st
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 for the Halloween weekend start on Friday, October 27th and will end on Wednesday, November 1st.
New York State Police, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force. While many will spend time trick-or-treating and hosting parties with friends and loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.
County Executive Molinaro said, “If you plan on celebrating Halloween, please do so responsibly and plan for a safe ride home. The consequences of drinking and driving are too high, and the safety of our children who are trick-or-treating and your fellow motorists is our paramount concern. Impaired driving is wholly preventable and not worth the risk.”
Research shows high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.
The STOP-DWI Halloween 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 from a grant through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Throughout the remainder of the year the statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national holiday season in December.
Dutchess County STOP-DWI Coordinator William C. Johnson said, “The crackdown grant project allows us to coordinate multi-agency sobriety checkpoints and an enhanced number of targeted saturation patrols throughout the County. The focus of the high visibility campaign is to simply send a clear message to drivers that impaired driving is taken seriously, and highway safety remains a priority of law enforcement.”
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. If residents do witness an impaired driver on the roads, they’re asked to dial 911 to notify authorities.
