Dutchess County to Participate in Statewide STOP-DWI
St. Patrick’s Day Crackdown Enforcement Effort
Impaired driving crackdown runs March 13th-18th
Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced Dutchess County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The statewide STOP-DWI crackdown efforts will start on Friday, March 13th and will end on Wednesday, March 18th.
The New York State Police, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office 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.
County Executive Molinaro said, “St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration that transcends nationality, but there is no excuse for revelers to drink and drive, endangering their lives and those with whom they share the road. If drinking will be part of your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, please plan ahead and find a safe ride home. We thank the many dedicated men and women of local law enforcement who devote their time and efforts to rid our roadways of impaired drivers – not only on St. Patrick’s Day, but every day.”
St. Patrick’s Day annually is one of the most popular drinking occasions of the year in United States, ranking behind only New Year’s Eve, Christmas Day and the Fourth of July, and it’s also one of the most hazardous days on U.S. roadways. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2017, for example, there were 59 alcohol-related fatalities nationwide during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, defined as 6 p.m. March 16th to 5:59 a.m. March 18th.
The St. Patrick’s Day Holiday 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 Fourth of July and Labor Day Weekend, Halloween and the national holiday season in December.
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.
