Westfield Will Increase Police Patrols St. Patrick's Day Weekend

WESTFIELD, NJ — St. Patrick's Day is a popular day to grab a pint, or two, and celebrate with friends. But it is also often one of the most dangerous days to be on the road.

Westfield Police announced it will increase its patrol presence in the town on St. Patrick's Day, and particularly over the weekend — from Saturday, March 19 to Sunday, March 20 — to double down on DWI enforcement. Police said there has been a 90.9 percent increase in DWI arrests in Westfield from 2020 to 2021.

This increased DWI enforcement efforts will include a DWI checkpoint during the late evening hours on Saturday and early morning hours on Sunday. The checkpoint will be located on Central Avenue at or near the intersection of Frazee Court.

DWI enforcement will also be widespread beyond this checkpoint, with additional police patrols throughout Westfield to help ensure public safety, police said.

According to recent data shared by Westfield Police, 249 people were killed in drunk driving crashes between 2014 to 2018 during the St. Patrick's Day holiday period in the U.S.

In 2018 alone, 73 people were killed in drunk driving accidents during the holiday.

Data also shows that the highest percent age group involved in fatal crashes in 2018 was 21 to 24-year-old drivers. Westfield Police said this statistic shows a direct correlation between young drinkers and young driver-related fatalities.

Another statistic from 2018 shows that alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes was 3.4 times higher during night time hours as compared to day time hours. Additionally, 28 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes related to alcohol impairment in 2018 occurred on the weekend. This percentage doubles that of the 14 percent which occurred during weekdays.

In 2019, the FBI estimates that over a million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It was also found that Saturday is the most dangerous day of the week to drive on the roads in the U.S.

Chief Christopher Battiloro and the Westfield Police Department suggest following these tips to ensure a happy and safe St Patrick’s Day and ensuing weekend:

• Plan a safe way to get home before the party begins.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your vehicle’s keys at home.
• If you are impaired, use a local taxi service or other car service (Uber or Lyft), call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to ensure you get home safely.
• If you think you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to immediately contact your local police department.
• And, finally, if you know someone who has been drinking and is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and make other arrangements to help them get home safely. Remember, friends don’t let friends drive drunk this St. Patrick’s Day.

Chief Battiloro stated, “The Westfield Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the public, especially on our local roadways, this St. Patrick’s Day. We hope through education, deterrence and proactive enforcement, we can ensure that everyone has a safe and healthy weekend.”

More updates from the Westfield Police Department can be found on its Facebook page.

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