ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State Police are reminding New Yorkers to celebrate responsibly this St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Troopers will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired, and reckless drivers over the holiday weekend. The special traffic enforcement detail will run Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19.
There will be extra patrols and sobriety checkpoints across Western New York and other parts of New York state. There will also be underage drinking checks at stores, bars, and restaurants.
In March 2022, State Police arrested 381 people for DWI statewide. They also issued 754 tickets for distracted driving.
The New York State Police and Governor's Traffic Safety Commission offer the following tips to stay safe on the roads:
- Before the festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
- Before you start drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi or ridesharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
- If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
- Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, call local law enforcement. You could save a life.
The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation’s "Have a Plan" mobile app, is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones. It enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list.