New DWI Enforcement Team to Patrol East End Towns This Weekend

Photo: Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco announced on Thursday that a new DWI enforcement team called the Sheriff’s Proactive Impaired Driving Effort (SPIDRE) will be patrolling Long Island’s five East End towns this holiday weekend.

He was joined by Assistant County Executive Timothy Sini, Deputy Sheriffs specially trained as Drug Recognition Experts, and Richard Finn, the County’s STOP-DWI Coordinator at a press conference in Yaphank on Thursday.

“We want everyone to stay safe this weekend and enjoy the summer, so I hope the public will respond by staying off the roads when they have had too much to drink,” DeMarco said.

The SPIDRE enforcement team was funded through the County STOP-DWI program, supported by fines collected from individuals that are convicted of alcohol and/or drug related traffic infractions.

“The County Executive is proud to support the STOP-DWI program,” Assistant Deputy County Executive Timothy Sini said. “In the past 3 years, we have seen incredible results, and with a 25 percent increase in revenue generated by the collection of fines, we have been able to drive down fatalities on county roads by 25 percent.”

The team includes three Deputy Sheriff Drug Recognition Experts (DRE’s).

Last weekend, the team made five DWI arrests, including one for DWI-drugs and one Leandra’s Law violation.

For the holiday weekend, the Sheriff’s BAT Mobile, a completely self-contained D.W.I. processing center, will also be stationed in East Hampton to enable Deputy Sheriffs to quickly process arrests and maximize time patrolling the roads.

“This new enforcement team will be focusing their attention on the five eastern towns throughout the summer, and we’ll be arresting drivers impaired by drugs and alcohol,” DeMarco said. “My advice to East End partiers – don’t get behind your wheel if you’re not sober. Designate someone else to drive.”