State Police To Step Up DWI Enforcement Over Super Bowl Weekend

The New York State Police will join local law enforcement agencies across the state in an effort to crack down on impaired driving during Super Bowl weekend. The STOP-DWI campaign will include underage drinking enforcement, increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers. The campaign will run from Saturday, Feb. 2 until 4 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 4.

While STOP-DWI efforts across the state have led to significant reductions in the number of drinking and driving fatalities, too many lives continue to be lost due to crashes caused by impaired drivers, police. During the 2018 Super Bowl campaign, state police arrested 120 people for impaired driving and issued 7,733 tickets.

“Unlike the Super Bowl, there are no winners when someone makes the choice to get behind the wheel of a vehicle impaired," said Acting State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett. "If you are going to be drinking, have a game plan to get home safely. Safety is our top priority and we will be increasing patrols and expanding sobriety checkpoints to identify dangerous and impaired drivers and prevent them from causing senseless tragedies. If you’re celebrating, do your part and celebrate responsibly. Don’t drive impaired.”

Over the weekend, drivers can expect to see a number of sobriety checkpoints and DWI patrols. Officers will also be looking for drivers who are using their phones and other electronic devices while behind the wheel. Troopers will be using both marked and unmarked cars as part of the operation.

An impaired driving conviction carries a maximum fine of $10,000, up to 7 years in prison and license revocation, police said.