Poughkeepsie … Law-enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving during Super Bowl weekend, beginning Friday, Feb. 10th and concluding Monday, Feb. 13th. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and various 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.

Dutchess County STOP-DWI Coordinator William C. Johnson said, “We thank the dedicated men and women of local law enforcement for their daily efforts to keep Dutchess County roadways safe. Those efforts will be heightened during this high-visibility engagement campaign, which coincides with Super Bowl weekend, during which many Americans will include alcohol in their gatherings. If you plan to drink this weekend, please also plan a safe ride home to keep Dutchess County’s roads free of impaired drivers.”

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. The Super Bowl crackdown is one of many statewide high visibility community engagement campaigns promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. In addition to this crackdown, statewide STOP-DWI engagement campaigns also target Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th, Labor Day Weekend, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the 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 www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp.