NYSP announces annual St. Patrick’s Day holiday DWI enforcement crackdown
Those who dare to test their luck with drunken or impaired driving over the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend, the New York State Police warns you won’t find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but rather a pot of hefty fines, legal fees and other potentially harsh consequences.
Beginning Friday, March 15 and running through Sunday, March 17, the New York State Police will team up with local law enforcement agencies statewide for the annual St. Patrick’s Day drunken driving enforcement blitz.
“The New York State Police urges everyone to have a plan this St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Make safety your number one priority, arrange for a sober ride home, and don’t be a risk to yourself or others out on the roads," said New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven G. James.
"The State Police and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant in keeping our roadways safe and will have zero tolerance for impaired and reckless drivers.”
According to State Police officials, drivers can expect to encounter additional DWI patrols and a number of sobriety checkpoints during the enforcement period.
State Police will also be ticketing districted drivers who are using handheld electronic devices and will also conduct underage drinking and unlawful sales to minors details during the campaign.
During last year’s St. Patrick’s Day impaired driving enforcement, Troopers arrested 220 people for DWI, issued 246 tickets for distracted driving and 11,648 tickets in total.
According to the New York State Police, drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people each year in our country. Furthermore, one person every 39 minutes dies of an alcohol related crash and every one of those deaths is preventable.
Choosing to drive drunk can ruin or end your life or someone else’s, authorities warn.
Anytime you choose to drink and drive, you face jail time, the loss of your license, a higher insurance rate, and dozens of unanticipated expenses.
An impaired driving charge carries a maximum fine of $10,000.
NYSP images.
