New York State Police Crack Down On Drug-Impaired Driving For 4/20

NEW YORK — The New York State Police Department is stepping up patrols and targeting drug-impaired driving on Thursday — "4/20" — for an enforcement and prevention campaign, the department announced.

"The State Police reminds motorists that driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, including cannabis, is not only dangerous, it is illegal in New York State," the department wrote.

4/20, when falling on the calendar, is a holiday celebrated by many weed-smokers in the U.S. and around the world.

Officers are trained to recognize impairment and drivers under the influence of drugs. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) held six drug recognition trainings in 2022, adding 99 drug recognition expert officers, bringing the total to 432 statewide, including 134 state troopers. GTSC’s goal is to raise the total number of trained officers statewide to 550 by the end of 2023.

Additionally, every state trooper is required to attend Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement training, which is not as extensive as drug recognition expert training, but provides members of law enforcement with additional skills to observe, identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs and alcohol. Statewide, 749 police officers completed the enforcement training. Both advanced training courses are offered by the GTSC.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offered safety tips and reminds drivers of the dangers of driving impaired from alcohol or cannabis use:

• "If you’re planning to consume cannabis, do not drive. Designate a sober driver who won’t be consuming or use public transportation or a ride-sharing service. Someone who’s high shouldn’t be making decisions about driving; that’s why planning is key.
• "According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested, the presence of cannabis had nearly doubled.
• "In 2018, 46 percent of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive.
• "It doesn’t matter what term you use: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she is impaired and should never get behind the wheel.
• "In every U.S. state and territory, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs — no exceptions.
• "Whether the drug is legal or not, drug-impaired driving poses a threat to the driver, passengers, and other road users.
• "If you think driving high won’t affect you, you are wrong: It has been shown that cannabis can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
• "Your best defense against impaired drivers on the road is your seat belt. Wear it on every trip, and make sure your passengers do, too."

The Cost of Impaired Driving

• "An impaired driving charge could set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, towing fees, and more.
• "If you’re caught driving under the influence of any impairing substance, you can face jail time.
• "Drug-impaired driving could cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle. This could stop you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss."

Have a Safe Travel Plan

• "If you have ingested an impairing substance such as cannabis, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
• "If you are drug-impaired, pass the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you to your destination. Like drunk driving, it is essential that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a vehicle. It is never OK to drive while impaired by any substance.
• "Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — they’ll thank you later."