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State Police to Crack Down on Impaired and Reckless
Driving During Super Bowl Weekend
Published: February 10, 2023
at 02:40 p.m.
By: Press Release from New York State Police
State Police to
crack down on impaired and reckless driving during Super Bowl weekend
10 February 2023
NEW YORK STATE
POLICE
Steven A. Nigrelli
Acting
Superintendent
Beau Duffy
Director of Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
The New York
State Police will crack down on impaired and reckless driving during Super
Bowl weekend. The special STOP-DWI enforcement campaign, funded by the
Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, will include increased patrols and
sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify, and arrest impaired drivers, as
well as underage drinker enforcement. The enforcement initiative runs from
Friday, February 10, 2023, through Monday, February 13, 2023.
New York State
Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli
said, “Make the winning decision on Super Bowl weekend and don’t get
behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking. Those celebrating the big game
this weekend should do so safely-game plan ahead
or drive sober. Safety is our top priority, and we will be increasing
patrols and expanding sobriety checkpoints to identify drunk and impaired
drivers and to help prevent senseless tragedies. The message is simple,
don’t drink and drive!”
While STOP-DWI
efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the number of
drinking and driving fatalities, too many lives are still being lost
because of crashes caused by impaired drivers. During the 2022 Super Bowl
campaign, State Police arrested 189 people for impaired driving and issued
10, 975 total tickets.
During this
enforcement period, drivers can expect a number of
sobriety checkpoints and DWI patrols. Troopers will be using both marked
State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE)
vehicles as part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow Troopers to more
easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving.
These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as
emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
Drivers should also remember to “move over” for stopped emergency and
hazard vehicles stopped on the side of the road when they travel New York
roadways.
An impaired
driving conviction carries a maximum fine of $10,000, up to 7 years in
prison and license revocation.
If you are hosting, you’re the team captain! Designate a responsible driver
now to help your guests get home safely:
- Ask all of your
guests to designate their sober drivers in advance or help them
arrange ridesharing with sober drivers. If you don’t drink, offer to
drive guests home.
- Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic
beverages at the party.
- Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third
quarter—this is a good time to serve coffee and dessert.
- Sign up online for a ridesharing service or
keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the
keys away from any guests who are thinking of driving after drinking.
- The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and
the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation “Have a Plan” mobile app,
is available for Apple, Droid and Windows
smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi
service and program a designated driver list. It also provides
information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a
suspected impaired driver.
- Remember, if you serve a guest alcohol and he
or she gets in a crash that night, you could be held liable.
- If an underage person drinks and drives, the
parent or guardian can be legally liable for any damage, injury or
death caused by the underage driver.
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