November 19, 2018 - The Department of Public Safety and other police agencies in Westchester are participating in a joint STOP-DWI enforcement campaign that began this month and will continue through New Year’s Day.
The enforcement will include roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints conducted by the County police on parkways and in various local communities. In addition, County Police will also team up with municipal police departments and the New York State Police on joint enforcement efforts in targeted locations.
County Executive George Latimer said: “In Westchester, we have seen first-hand the devastating consequences that occur when people drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Innocent lives have been lost and people have suffered permanent, life-changing injuries. Every DWI arrest is a potential tragedy averted.”
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, the County Police will be increasing its enforcement of Driving While Intoxicated laws along the Bronx River, Cross County, Saw Mill and Hutchinson River parkways. Stepped-up enforcement is also planned in Cortlandt, Mount Kisco and other local communities.
Department of Public Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. said anyone planning to consume alcohol should always have a designated driver, take a taxi or make other arrangements to avoid getting behind the wheel.
Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared November as STOP-DWI month across the state. County Police in recent weeks have conducted joint enforcement with the Port Chester Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department and New York State Police, resulting in multiple arrests. Similar efforts will continue throughout this month and into the New Year.
The County’s Office of Drug Abuse Prevention and STOP-DWI assists in coordinating joint law enforcement initiatives such as the current enforcement campaign. Since the STOP-DWI program was established across the state in 1981, fatalities from alcohol-related crashes on New York’s roadways have decreased 74 percent.
The Office of Drug Abuse Prevention and STOP-DWI also conducts numerous programs for schools and community groups to educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving, the increased certainty of arrest and the serious penalties faced by drivers convicted of DWI. It also holds many educational programs at high schools around the County to educate new drivers about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.