ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State Police and native regulation enforcement companies throughout the state will enhance patrols and crackdown on drunk and drugged driving and different site visitors infractions this 4th of July weekend. State Troopers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and goal reckless and aggressive driving statewide to maintain New York highways protected throughout one of many busiest summer season holidays for journey.
The marketing campaign will start Friday, July 2 and run by way of Monday, July 5.
“With all that we have been by way of over the past sixteen months, we actually need New Yorkers to have enjoyable this vacation weekend and rejoice, however we additionally need them to take action responsibly,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo mentioned.
“Getting behind the wheel whereas impaired is a alternative that usually ends in tragedy. Make the suitable alternative this 12 months and plan forward for a sober and protected trip dwelling,” Cuomo added.
Final 12 months, the State Police issued practically 9,214 automobile and site visitors tickets in the course of the 4th of July weekend. Troopers arrested 180 individuals for DWI and investigated 456 crashes and one fatality.
“Troopers might be out in drive and extremely seen this weekend, looking out for impaired, drugged, and reckless drivers. Our message is straightforward: When you drink and drive, you can be arrested. Keep protected and do not make a foul determination that prices your life or the lifetime of another person,” New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said.
Throughout this enforcement interval, drivers can count on a variety of sobriety checkpoints and DWI patrols. Regulation enforcement will even be on the lookout for motorists who’re utilizing their telephones and different digital gadgets whereas behind the wheel. Drivers also needs to keep in mind to “transfer over” for stopped emergency and hazard autos stopped on the aspect of the highway once they journey New York roadways.
Troopers might be utilizing each marked State Police autos and Hid Identification Site visitors Enforcement autos as a part of the operation. The CITE autos enable Troopers to extra simply determine motorists who’re utilizing handheld gadgets whereas driving. These autos mix in with every single day site visitors however are unmistakable as emergency autos as soon as the emergency lighting is activated.
“As we rejoice the 245th anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, it is vital we achieve this responsibly. If you recognize you can be ingesting, make a plan to both keep the place you might be or to get dwelling safely. Designate a driver, prepare for a cab or a trip share, and benefit from the day with out placing your self or anybody else in hurt’s method,” DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Site visitors Security Committee Mark J.F. Schroeder added.
The Fourth of July initiative is partially funded by the Governor’s Site visitors Security Committee. The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Basis remind motorists that their “Have a Plan” cellular app, is accessible for Apple, Droid and Home windows smartphones. The app permits New Yorkers to find and name a taxi or rideshare service and program a chosen driver checklist. It additionally gives info on DWI legal guidelines and penalties, and gives a method to report a suspected impaired driver.
When you drive drunk or drugged, you not solely put your life and the lives of others in danger, you possibly can face arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and legal professional charges. The common ingesting and driving arrest prices as much as $10,000.
Arrested drunk and drugged drivers face the lack of their driver’s license, increased insurance coverage charges, and dozens of unanticipated bills from legal professional charges, fines and courtroom prices, automobile towing and repairs, and misplaced time at work.
The New York State Police, GTSC and NHTSA suggest these easy tricks to stop impaired driving:
- Plan a protected method dwelling earlier than the enjoyable begins;
- Earlier than ingesting, designate a sober driver;
- When you’re impaired, use a taxi, name a sober good friend or member of the family, or use public transportation;
- Use your neighborhood’s sober trip program;
- When you suspect a driver is drunk or impaired on the highway, do not hesitate to contact native regulation enforcement;
- If you recognize somebody who’s about to drive or trip whereas impaired, take their keys and assist them make different preparations to get to the place they’re going safely.
