Madison County to participate in STOP-DWI crackdown enforcement

Madison County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matthew White has announced that Madison County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on March 16 and will end on March 21.

Officials say St. Patrick’s Day Weekend is a notoriously deadly period for impaired driving due to the number of celebrations and drivers on the road. At that time, New York State Police, county sheriff, and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be working together to enforce safe driving and reduce alcohol-related injuries and deaths.

The STOP-DWI St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by STOPDWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

This partnership has allowed local programs to significantly increase their enforcement and public awareness efforts, officials say. The Statewide STOPDWI Crackdown Campaign also targets Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day Weekend, Halloween, and the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have made great strides in reducing the numbers of alcohol and drugrelated fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.

STOP-DWI NY has created a free app with at-the-ready resources to help more members of the public become a part of the solution. The app allows users to:

• locate and call a taxi service

• program a designateddriver list

• educate themselves on Blood Alcohol Content levels, as well as information on DWI laws and penalties

• report a suspected impaired driver

The app, called “Have a Plan,” is available for Android and Apple devices.

PEXELS.COM St. Patrick’s Day hat and green drinks

screenshot from Have a Plan app A screenshot from STOP DWI New York’s “Have a Plan” app