State Cops Announce St. Patrick's DWI Crackdown

A statewide DWI crackdown will begin on Saturday and run through March 17.

Drivers can expect a number of sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, underage drinking and sales to minors details during the campaign. State Police will also be ticketing distracted drivers who use handheld electronic devices.

The time around St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays due to the number of drunk drivers on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period from 2010 to 2014 saw the loss of 266 lives nationally due to drunk-driving crashes. Drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people each year nationwide -- and every one of those deaths is preventable, state officials said.

In 2014 alone, 29 people (28 percent of all crash fatalities) were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period.

“The State Police urge everyone to have a plan this St. Patrick’s Day," New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said in the announcement. "If you plan on drinking, designate a sober driver. A day of celebrating can quickly turn to tragedy because of impaired driving. Help us to keep New York’s roads the safest in the nation by planning ahead to stay safe.”

During New York's St. Patrick’s Day weekend enforcement effort last year, troopers made 264 arrests for DWI and issued more than 14,000 tickets, officials said.

This crackdown is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

The State Police, the GTSC and the NHTSA ask 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.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call local law enforcement. You could save a life.