Dutchess County Participating in Statewide
STOP-DWI Labor Day Crackdown Enforcement Effort
Impaired driving crackdown runs through September 2nd
Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced Dutchess County police agencies are participating in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving this Labor Day weekend.
Law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives during the crackdown, which concludes September 2nd. New York State Police, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.
Dutchess County Executive Molinaro said, “Heading into the busy Labor Day weekend, we remind all motorists to simply drive sober or face the consequences. While we spend the Labor Day holiday and the unofficial end of summer with our loved ones our law enforcement partners will be out in force to ensure safety and prevent injuries. This high visibility enforcement effort is another reminder that impaired driving is entirely preventable and certainly not worth the risks.”
According to data released by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 35,092 people were lost in traffic crashes in 2015, a 7.2-percent increase in deaths from 2014, ending a five-decade trend of declining fatalities. The data showed a 3.2-percent increase in drunk-driving fatalities, resulting in 10,265 deaths in 2015, compared to 9,943, in 2014. The vast majority of drivers involved in these crashes were behind the wheel of a passenger car or SUV. Research shows high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent and Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.
The STOP-DWI Labor Day Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the state STOP-DWI Foundation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Halloween and the holiday season in December for other enforcements this year.
Dutchess County STOP-DWI coordinator William C. Johnson said, “Our participation in this coordinated effort reaffirms Dutchess County’s commitment across the board to identify, apprehend, and prosecute impaired drivers. The crackdown campaign is a purposeful effort to promote community awareness and apprehend those that chose to violate the law.”