DWI crackdown begins on St. Patrick’s Day

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that there will be increased impaired driving patrols for St. Patrick’s day. The enforcement campaign is expected to run from March 16 through March 20.

This crackdown comes as no surprise—state-wide, last year’s St. Patrick’s Day campaign resulted in more than 47,000 vehicle and traffic law violation tickets issued.

"We all love celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with family and friends, so make sure you’re celebrating safely this year," Governor Hochul said. "I encourage all New Yorkers to plan for a safe ride home, so you can enjoy your celebration without endangering yourself and others."

The campaign is sponsored by STOP-DWI, with funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. This safety initiative is designed to reduce alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes and to save lives. More information on the STOP-DWI program can be found here.

Here is a breakdown of the tickets issued during the 2021 campaign:

Violation	Number of Tickets
Impaired Driving	1,403
Distracted Driving	610
Move Over Law	280
Seatbelt	1,298
Speeding	10,409
Other Violations	33,349
Grand Total	47,349