Expect Extra DWI Patrols, Checkpoints for St. Patrick's Day Celebrations

New York residents can expect extra sobriety checkpoints and DWI patrols in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday synonymous with drinking, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday.

New York State Police and local law enforcement will initiate special traffic enforcements as St. Patrick’s Day celebrations begin this weekend. The crackdown will be held from Saturday to Thursday, March 17.

"State Police and local law enforcement will be out in full force over the coming days to help ensure a safe holiday," Cuomo said in a press release. "This state has zero tolerance for reckless and impaired driving and I encourage all New Yorkers to celebrate responsibly in order to help prevent senseless tragedies."

St. Patrick’s day is considered one of the deadliest holidays due to the amount of drunk drivers on the road. From 2010-2014, about 266 people died due to drunk driver crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Troopers made 264 DWI arrests and issued more than 14,000 tickets during the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day weekend enforcement effort. This year's enforcements will be just as strict.

The crackdown will include:

• Sobriety checkpoints
• DWI patrols
• Details about underage drinking and sales to minors
• Ticketing distracted drivers who use handheld electronic devices

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

Here's a few tips on how to plan ahead for a safe St. Patrick’s Day, according to New York State Police, Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• 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.

Anyone who drinks and drives faces the possibility of jail time, the loss of a driver’s license, higher insurance rates and dozens of additional expenses. An impaired driving charge could cost offenders a maximum fine of $10,000.

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