Troop K announces Stop DWI crackdown this St. Patrick’s Day weekend
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Robin H. Benziger
Troop K Commander
PRESS RELEASE
The New York State Police will initiate special traffic enforcement efforts during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
The effort will begin on Friday, March 13, 2015 and conclude on March 17, 2015.
Drivers can expect sobriety checkpoints, designated DWI patrols, underage drinking and sales to minors details throughout the campaign. State Police will also be ticketing distracted drivers who utilize handheld electronic devices.
“The New York State Police would like everyone to have fun this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, but urges people to do it safely. If you plan on drinking please designate a sober driver. Impaired drivers can cause needless deaths and injuries. Together, we can keep New York State’s roads among the safest in the nation,” said New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico.
During the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day weekend enforcement efforts, Troopers made 184 arrests for DWI and issued more than 11,000 tickets.
For too many Americans, St. Patrick’s Day has ended in tragedy due to drunk drivers getting behind the wheel. Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend from 2009 to 2013, there were a total of 276 lives lost in drunk driving crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Every 45 minutes in 2012 a person was killed in a drunk-driving crash in the United States, and most of the drunk drivers involved had blood alcohol concentrations nearly double the legal limit of .08%.
Choosing to drive drunk can ruin your life or someone else’s. If you choose to drink and drive, you face jail time, the loss of your license, a higher insurance rate, and dozens of unanticipated expenses. An impaired driving charge carries a maximum fine of $10,000.
The New York State Police and NHTSA asks you to commit to following these easy steps, so you can enjoy a safe holiday without jeopardizing lives on the road.
• Before the festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
• Before you start drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
• If available, use your community’s sober ride program
• Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
Drunk driving has fatal consequences. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police immediately. You could save a life.
