East Hudson Valley News

Various police agencies throughout Dutchess County will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving to coincide with Labor Day weekend. The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign effort, currently in effect, will conclude at the end of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 2. Municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths during this period.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 490 crash fatalities nationwide during the 2022 Labor Day holiday; of those fatalities, 39 percent involved a drunk driver, and 25 percent involved drivers who were driving with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) almost twice the legal limit. Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the 2022 Labor Day holiday, 47 percent were drunk with BACs of .08 or higher, according to the NHTSA. Statewide, New York State Police arrested 154 people for driving while intoxicated during the 2023 Labor Day weekend enforcement period.

The Labor Day Weekend Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation with a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. In addition to this crackdown, statewide STOP-DWI engagement campaigns also target Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th Weekend, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the December holiday season.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Community Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Drivers can help to make a difference by having a sober plan. Motorists can download the mobile app “Have a Plan” and be able to find a safe ride home at www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp.