Sheriff’s Office Warns Drivers in Dutchess County This Weekend

Dutchess County Sherriff Kirk Imperati issues a warning to anyone planning on driving in Dutchess County this holiday weekend.

As the holidays quickly approach, one Hudson Valley area Sheriff has announced that his office will be participating in a special statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Enforcement Campaign to crack down on impaired driving during the national Thanksgiving holiday.

"Going out? So are we" says Dutchess County Sherriff

Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati made the announcement on Facebook saying,

"I will have additional deputies on patrol throughout the County, in a coordinated effort to prevent and reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths during this period. Always remember to plan ahead to have a safe way home. Working together, we will keep our roadways safe and prevent tragedies from occurring within our community. I wish everyone a safe and joyful Thanksgiving!"

Lots of Drivers on New York Roads

The Thanksgiving holiday period is one of the most active times of the year on U.S. roadways, with AAA estimating that 55 million motorists traveled for the holiday in 2019, with most choosing to drive to their destination.

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That many drivers on the roads oftentimes leads to an increase in the number of accidents and in 2019 29% of driving fatalities during the Thanksgiving holiday period involved an alcohol-impaired driver according to the National Safety Council.

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Statistics like that are why many Hudson Valley police departments and sheriff's offices announce their participation in programs like the "Thanksgiving Engagement Campaign," which is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association.

Over 210 people were arrested for DWI and more than four thousand speeding tickets were handed out during a similar initiative at this time last year.

New York STOP-DWI

Initiatives like this are made possible thanks to a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, along with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign not only targets Thanksgiving but also targets other popular travel days including Super Bowl Sunday, Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July, Labor Day weekend, Halloween, and the national Holiday Season, which kicks off next month.