BUFFALO, N.Y. — Saint Patrick's Day celebrations have already started, and on Thursday morning, the head of the NYS DMV and several police agencies got together to tell people to have a plan to get home safely.
Buffalo is hosting two big parades this weekend, and the message from law enforcement is make sure you make your plans now if you plan on drinking.
"It all comes down to having a plan. There is an old adage, plan your work, work your plan. You need to have a plan to get yourself home safely at the end of your celebration," says New York State DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder.
New York State DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder says if you're partying this weekend, you need to take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of others around you. And, you can start by having a plan that doesn't involve driving drunk.
"There are so many ways to do that now, whether it's having a designated driver, or making sure that you've got a taxi company signed up or Uber and Lyft," said Mark Schroeder.
Schroeder says during the St. Patrick's Day holiday last year, law enforcement statewide wrote almost a thousand tickets for impaired driving, almost two-hundred for distracted driving, and almost five-thousand for speeding.
"We will be out making arrests, but keep in mind we don't want to make arrests. We will, but you have the potential of impacting many lives if you make the wrong decision any day of the week, especially this weekend," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
And, if you don't use Uber or Lyft, Schroeder says there's always another option.
"It's not a threat, the fact is there are going to be patrols out, and so people should know that, you know, when they plan this weekend to be careful, be safe and to go back to the old days of walking. Walk a little bit. Don't get in the car," said Mark Schroeder.
Drunk driving isn't just an issue here in Erie County.
There will be St. Patrick's Day celebrations happening everywhere, and in Niagara County, the sheriff's office says patrols will be out on Friday through the end of the weekend looking for impaired drivers.
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