Impaired driving crackdown set for July Fourth weekend

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >> Madison County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort over the July Fourth weekend to crackdown on impaired driving.

The statewide STOPDWI Crackdown efforts start on July 3 and will end on July 7. The Fourth of July extended weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. This year the Fourth of July falls on a Thursday, so law enforcement expects heavy traveling to begin on Wednesday evening and festivities to run through the weekend.

Research shows that high- visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. The New York State Police, county sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to aggressively target those who put lives in danger.

The Fourth Weekend Crackdown is one of several statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. The Statewide STOP- DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets Labor Day Weekend, Halloween and the national Holiday Season in December.

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, law enforcement officials say. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP- DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Those who will be celebrating but are worried about transportation can download the county’s “Have a Plan” app at www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp.