Photo: lancasteronline.com
New York Governor Cuomo has announced that local and county law enforcement agencies will increase patrols to crack down on drunk driving and underage drinking this Halloween weekend. The special traffic enforcement detail began on Friday and goes on through Sunday, November 1, so you’d better watch out.
The governor’s warning comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that from 2009 to 2013, 42 percent of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes across the U.S. on Halloween night were in crashes involving a drunk driver. Moreover, trick-or-treaters, their friends and loved ones are also at risk on Halloween night, with 19 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes (2009-2013) involving drunk drivers.
“This weekend, we are ramping up our enforcement efforts to prevent needless tragedies and keep people safe,” said Governor Cuomo, according to Long Island. “It’s simple: if you’re planning to drink, use public transportation or a designated driver. I urge New Yorkers to make the right choice this weekend so that everyone can have a safe and happy Halloween.”
The police have warned motorists that some sobriety checkpoints and additional patrols will be present on the streets, and Troopers will also conduct a special enforcement detail to crack down on the sale of alcohol to minors.
Here’s the tricky part. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown, which means that if you don’t see the police cars on the street that doesn’t mean they won’t be there. As you may well know, these vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once their emergency lights are activated.
These resolutions may seem a little harsh, but if you take a moment and look at last year’s figures, you’ll understand the police crackdown is for the best. According to the source, during last year’s All Saints’ Eve there were more than 720 crashes that killed three people and injured more than 150 others. Troopers arrested 195 people for DUI and issued more than 9,700 tickets for speeding, distracted driving and other traffic violations.
You may want to know that not only are you risking jail time and the loss of your license, but an impaired driving charge carries a maximum fine of $10,000. Heck, just use Uber!
“This weekend, we are ramping up our enforcement efforts to prevent needless tragedies and keep people safe,” said Governor Cuomo, according to Long Island. “It’s simple: if you’re planning to drink, use public transportation or a designated driver. I urge New Yorkers to make the right choice this weekend so that everyone can have a safe and happy Halloween.”
The police have warned motorists that some sobriety checkpoints and additional patrols will be present on the streets, and Troopers will also conduct a special enforcement detail to crack down on the sale of alcohol to minors.
Here’s the tricky part. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown, which means that if you don’t see the police cars on the street that doesn’t mean they won’t be there. As you may well know, these vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once their emergency lights are activated.
These resolutions may seem a little harsh, but if you take a moment and look at last year’s figures, you’ll understand the police crackdown is for the best. According to the source, during last year’s All Saints’ Eve there were more than 720 crashes that killed three people and injured more than 150 others. Troopers arrested 195 people for DUI and issued more than 9,700 tickets for speeding, distracted driving and other traffic violations.
You may want to know that not only are you risking jail time and the loss of your license, but an impaired driving charge carries a maximum fine of $10,000. Heck, just use Uber!
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