BATH, N.Y. (WETM) — Steuben County Sheriff, Jim Allard, reported that from Aug. 13 to Aug. 15, deputies arrested three individuals for Driving Whereas Intoxicated. Sheriff Allard mentioned there’s a cause for the uptick.
Allard mentioned there was over 70 DWI/DWIA (Driving Whereas Capacity Impaired) arrests to this point this 12 months.
“Clearly, we’ve seen an uptick in DWAI arrests since hashish was legalized,” mentioned Sheriff Allard. “That’s undoubtedly a consider that finish.”
Allard mentioned they’ve averaged round 150 DWI arrests a 12 months for the previous three to 4 years. The Sheriff’s Workplace has two deputies that work full-time on DWIs and narcotics interdiction.
“Driving whereas intoxicated or impaired crashes are nonetheless the primary case of felony deaths within the county,” mentioned Sheriff Allard.
Driving whereas intoxicated or impaired may end up in critical fines, together with doable jail time. Nonetheless, Sheriff Allard mentioned there’s a larger consequence.
“Sometimes once we see these crashes, the intoxicated or impaired driver walks away whereas passengers will not be so fortunate,” mentioned Sheriff Allard. “The most important consequence resides with the truth that you’ve killed one other human being on account of your selections.”
His recommendation to the general public?
“We at all times discuss what to not do, however [we also] discuss what to do,” mentioned Sheriff Allard. “That’s use rideshares, use apps, hand your keys to another person when you’re going to drink. Be accountable about it and make a plan.”
