State Cops Start Labor Day DWI Crackdown

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday directed State Police to ramp up enforcement efforts as part of a national crackdown on impaired driving through Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day is one of the deadliest times of year for drunk and drugged driving fatalities, state officials said. So this year the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, begins statewide on Aug. 18 and ends Sept. 5.

“Drunk drivers are a danger to themselves and others, and law enforcement is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on the road,” Cuomo said in the announcement. “Impaired driving is a reckless and dangerous crime with potentially fatal consequences, and I urge New Yorkers to drive responsibly to avoid senseless tragedies.”

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown will be carried out with assistance from local law enforcement and aims to reduce deaths and injuries caused by motorists driving drunk or impaired by drugs. Last year, 41 counties participated in the Labor Day crackdown, resulting in 237 DWI/DWAI arrests, 17 Drug Recognition Expert Evaluations, 26 DWAI-drug only arrests, 317 other arrests, and more than 3,400 Vehicle and Traffic Law summonses, state officials said.

Impaired driving is a major contributor to crash fatalities.

One-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. In New York State, alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor in more than 7,000 police-reported crashes in 2015, while illegal drugs contributed to more than 800 crashes.

Additionally, impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion each year.

The penalties for impaired driving are accordingly strict. Drivers convicted of DWI or DWAI three or more times in 15 years face a Class D felony charge, up to seven years in prison, and a fine up to $10,000.

Terri Egan, Acting Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chair and Department of Motor Vehicles Executive Deputy Commissioner said, “There is never an excuse to drive after drinking or while impaired by drugs or alcohol. It is selfish, irresponsible, and unnecessary, and can have tragic effects not only on drivers, but on innocent victims on the roads. Have a plan before you go out, enlist friends to help, and remember that law enforcement will see you before you see them.”

In New York State, impaired driving enforcement campaigns are funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and STOP-DWI, a comprehensive and financially self-sustaining highway safety program that allows participating counties to qualify for the return of all fines collected within their county for alcohol and other drug-related traffic offenses. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee supports statewide enforcement and education in conjunction with national crackdowns, and uses federal funds to support impaired driving projects, in addition to supplementing the resources available for statewide enforcement efforts. These include statewide public information campaigns, training programs, multi-agency advisory groups, research studies and projects to enhance state agency programs.

Crackdown periods coincide with times when large numbers of impaired drivers are likely to be on the roadways, including Halloween, the winter holiday season, the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.

“Each year, on average, more than 10,000 people die on our roadways due to drunk driving. Just consider all of the lost talent, lost love and companionship for family and friends, lost contributions toward a better society, lost opportunities to live and grow – all because some people made bad choices to drink and drive, and snuffed out all that potential," said Peter R. Kehoe, Executive Director of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association. "It’s a tragedy all around, that doesn’t have to be.”

Drunk driving is often a symptom of a larger problem: alcohol misuse and abuse.

New Yorkers can find help for addiction and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). Addiction treatment providers can be located on the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Access Help website or on the Treatment Availability Dashboard. For additional tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing underage drinking or drug use, visit the state’s Talk2Prevent website.