Kingston, NY - Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announces that police agencies across Ulster County will participate in a statewide special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving during the Thanksgiving holiday, November 22 through November 26, 2017.
While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related vehicular fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
“The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times of the year with people traveling the roadways to spend the holiday with friends and family,” said County Executive Mike Hein. “I appreciate the important efforts of all the agencies participating in this statewide STOP-DWI crackdown as they aim to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives. While we want everyone to enjoy this Thanksgiving with their loved ones, I urge those on the roadways this holiday to plan ahead and appoint a designated driver ahead of time if needed. Life is too precious to be cut short, so please do not drive impaired. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Weekend.”
In New York State during the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday crackdown, troopers arrested 218 drivers for DWI, issued 5,910 speeding tickets; 732 tickets for distracted driving; and 204 tickets for the move over law. A total of 31 counties and 128 local law enforcement agencies participated in the 2015 Thanksgiving crackdown, resulting in 120 DWI/DWAI arrests, 12 DWAI-drugs only arrests, 91 other arrests and 1,449 vehicle and traffic summonses. In addition, there were 19 deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes statewide during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2015.
The STOP-DWI Thanksgiving Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and implemented by the STOP-DWI Foundation. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target the Holiday Season in December.
