Nassau County, NY - December 29, 2015 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced today that this New Year’s week, the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) will participate in a “STOP-DWI” program that allocates additional police officers to conduct an extensive DWI enforcement initiative over and above the patrols being funded by the asset forfeiture funds of both the NCPD and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
The “STOP DWI” enforcement program is funded by the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee through the NYS STOP DWI Foundation. STOP-DWI also distributes funds using fine money collected from DWIs successfully prosecuted in Nassau County. These funds will provide the NCPD and police departments throughout the county with additional funding that will be utilized to implement an effective DWI saturation enforcement strategy that has proven very successful in years past. The District Attorney’s Office has also committed $100,000 to holiday DWI enforcement between Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Day of this year. The NCPD’s Highway Patrol Bureau will coordinate and plan this initiative that will target certain areas throughout the county. There were 26 DWI arrests in Nassau County over last year’s New Year’s holiday.
“New Year’s Eve is typically one of the biggest party nights of the year. Nassau Police will be targeting drunk drivers and looking to prevent the kind of senseless alcohol-related accidents that, unfortunately, often occur during a holiday. There will be additional police patrols all around Nassau County and chances are if you drive drunk at any point over New Year’s Eve, you will be arrested,” said County Executive Mangano.
“It is appropriate to use DWI fine money and the funds seized from criminal activity to keep our families safe from the devastation that DWIs can bring” District Attorney Singas said. “Hold your families close and be safe for the remainder of this holiday season and be part of the solution by thinking ahead and choosing not to drive while impaired.”
County Executive Mangano, District Attorney Singas, the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County Stop DWI Coordinator remind residents:
• If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver before going out.
• Take mass transit, a cab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity is being held.
• Download the STOP-DWI mobile app at www.stopdwi.org
• Always buckle up – it’s your best defense against a drunk driver.
“Make responsible and smart decisions during your celebrations, and plan accordingly so everyone can return home safely to their loved ones. Be smart - a taxi is a much better choice than the backseat of a patrol car,” added County Executive Mangano. “Please ‘think before you drink’ this weekend.”
This New Year’s Eve, for a free ride home from a bar, pub or catering hall, residents may call All Island Transportation at (516) 326-9090.
For more information on the Nassau County STOP DWI program, please contact Christopher Mistron at (516) 571-7021.