Increased DWI Enforcement On NY Roads This Memorial Day Weekend

NEW YORK STATE — Police will be out in greater numbers than usual this Memorial Day weekend to help keep the roads safe. State and local police will be setting up sobriety checkpoints to combat drunk and impaired driving.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the STOP-DWI initiative, which will begin at 6 p.m. tonight and run through 3 a.m. on May 31. Police will be out in force to get dangerous drivers off the road over the long weekend.

"Impaired driving is a reckless, dangerous choice that puts far too many people at risk of costly and possibly deadly consequences," Hochul said. "As we prepare to travel and get together with friends and family for Memorial Day weekend, I urge all motorists to drive responsibly and plan for a safe ride home. Don't get behind the wheel if you've been drinking so you can enjoy your weekend without endangering yourself or others."

There will be stepped-up sobriety checkpoints across the state over the long weekend. State troopers will be using both marked and unmarked cars as part of their efforts.

On Memorial Day weekend last year, state troopers arrested 185 people for drinking and driving, issued 9,214 total tickets, and investigated 163 personal injury crashes, which resulted in two fatalities. In addition to the New York State Police, numerous counties and agencies throughout the state also participated in last year's Memorial Day Crackdown.

This initiative is partially funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation created the "Have a Plan" mobile app to help New Yorkers find a safe way home from a celebration where they may be drinking. The free app allows users to designate a driver, call a cab or ride share, and review the consequences of impaired driving. Users can even use the app to report a drunk or drugged driver. The app is available for Apple, Android and Windows smart phones.