New York State Police are participating in a national impaired driving enforcement campaign called the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over". The initiative focuses on removing impaired drivers from Northern New York's streets, roads and highways during the busy holiday season.
During this period, State Police are planning 30 sobriety checkpoints, 10 saturation details, 18 underage drinking and unlawful sale to minors details, and 41 additional dedicated local DWI patrols. Saturation details consist of multiple roving units that target a specific area of focus. It is a massive effort supported largely through grants from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, aimed at preventing tragedies during the Holiday Season.
“The Holiday Season is all about the joy of families and friends, but each year the season turns to sorrows for some as a result of traffic crashes resulting from drinking and driving,” said State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico. “ We are asking everyone who drinks to designate a driver or arrange safe transportation in advance to secure the happiness of the season for your loved ones.”
State Troopers in St. Lawrence County has additional Troopers on DWI patrol during the Holiday period, stationary roadblocks on area roadways and additional members who will visit licensed premises to ensure that sales of alcohol are compliant with the State’s age requirements.
Last year during the Holiday enforcement effort, troopers made 526 arrests for DWI, and issued a total of 35,496 tickets.
