Dutchess County to Participate in Statewide STOP-DWI Memorial Day Crackdown
Impaired driving crackdown takes place Friday, May 27th through Tuesday, May 31st
Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced police agencies throughout Dutchess County will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving during Memorial Day weekend, beginning Friday, May 27th and concluding Tuesday, May 31st. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and municipal law enforcement agencies will join agencies across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to aggressively target those who put lives in danger.
County Executive Molinaro said, “While we all pause to remember the brave men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom this Memorial Day, we must also preserve the safety of motorists and passengers on our roadways. Some will choose to include alcohol in their holiday weekend, but there is no excuse for impaired driving – if you plan on drinking this Memorial Day weekend, plan a safe ride home. Law officers throughout Dutchess County will dutifully remove impaired drivers from local roads this weekend, as they do every day of the year, and we thank them for their dedication to service.”
Research shows high visibility community engagement campaigns can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. Law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County and the state will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths.
The Memorial Day crackdown is one of many statewide high visibility community engagement campaigns promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. The statewide STOP-DWI engagement campaigns also target Labor Day, the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving 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 High Visibility Community Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
Drivers can help to make a difference by having a sober plan! Motorists can download the mobile app, “Have a Plan,” and be able to find a safe ride home http://www.stopdwi.org/
