The Catskill Chronicle

NEW YORK STATE (January 30, 2015) – New York State Police will join local law enforcement agencies across the state in an effort to crack down on impaired driving during Super Bowl weekend. The STOP-DWI campaign will include increased patrols on the roadways and sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers.

"New York State has zero tolerance for impaired driving and for the needless tragedy that it causes," Governor Cuomo said. "Through this STOP-DWI crackdown, we are giving a clear warning to those behind the wheel: drive sober or get pulled over."

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the number of drinking and driving fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by impaired drivers. During the 2014 campaign, State Police made nearly 100 impaired driving arrests. The campaign will be promoted on variable message boards on highways across the state, including the New York State Thruway, and runs from noon through midnight on Super Bowl Sunday. The enforcement crackdown is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said, “The injuries and deaths caused by impaired drivers are completely preventable. State Police and our law enforcement partners continue to work to keep drunk drivers off our roads every day. Those celebrating the big game this weekend should do so safely- plan ahead or drive sober. Together, we can save lives and prevent serious injuries.”

An impaired driving conviction carries a maximum fine of $10,000, up to 7 years in prison and license revocation.

In 2012, there were 10,322 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the United States—31 percent of all crash fatalities in the nation.