Department of Motor Vehicles

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday September 22, 2021

GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITEE ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN 

2,586 Tickets Issued for Impaired Driving During STOP-DWI "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign

94,075 Tickets Issued for Other Vehicle and Traffic Law Violations

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced that law enforcement agencies throughout the state issued 2,586 tickets for impaired driving during the STOP-DWI "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, which ran from August 20 through September 6. During that time, officers also issued 94,075 tickets for other vehicle and traffic law violations, such as speeding and distracted driving.    

“Impaired driving is a reckless decision that puts all those sharing the road in danger and New York State has zero tolerance for it,” DMV Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said. “The enforcement campaign showed impaired drivers will be caught and held accountable. The message is simple: drive sober or plan for a safe ride to your destination.”    

The STOP-DWI "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, supported by GTSC, occurs multiple times throughout the year to reduce alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes. The following tickets were issued during this campaign: 

Last year, there was a rise in fatal impaired-driving crashes. There were 378 fatal impaired-driving crashes in 2019, compared to 408 fatal impaired crashes in 2020, according to preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, and there were far more serious injuries as a result of those avoidable crashes.    

A major component of New York's efforts to combat impaired driving is the Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated. The state's STOP-DWI program is the nation's first self-sustaining impaired driving program. The program is funded from fines paid by convicted impaired drivers. Program coordinators are from diverse professional backgrounds, including law enforcement and non-law enforcement.    

The STOP-DWI program was created to empower counties to coordinate local efforts to reduce alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes. All 62 counties have opted to participate. Additionally, GTSC and STOP-DWI also remind motorists that their "Have a Plan" mobile app is available for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi or rideshare service and program a designated driver list. To learn more, visit http://www.stopdwi.org/.    

In addition to STOP-DWI, the GTSC supports training for Drug Recognition Experts. DREs are specially trained officers utilized by law enforcement when a driver appears to be impaired, but police have ruled out alcohol as the cause or sole cause of impairment. Each DRE receives extensive training that has been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Training allows officers to observe and document signs and indicators of impairment within each of seven drug categories including illicit and prescription drugs.    

About GTSC 
Combined with education and enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year, and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle, and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seatbelt use statewide. For more information about traffic safety in New York State, please visit the GTSC website at https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/.     

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