Nassau County Police are planing a major drunk driving enforcement sweep on Labor Day weekend, county officials said.
County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas V. Dale announced what they termed a "centralized STOP-DWI Enforcement" initiative, funded by a county grant.
Nassau's Highway Patrol Bureau will coordinate the additional patrols, which are funded by a grant derived from fines collected through DWI convictions. Some local police departments will be directly involved in the enforcement action.
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“We will be targeting drunk drivers and looking to prevent the kind of senseless alcohol-related accidents that often occur during a holiday weekend," Mangano said in a statement. "There will be additional police patrols all around Nassau County and chances are if you drive drunk this weekend, you will be arrested.”
Last year on Labor Day weekend, from 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, through 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, police made 54 drunk driving arrests, officials said.
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This year's added patrols will be visible during the holiday weekend on Friday and Saturday, as well as Saturday Sept. 8, county officials said.
While officials did not spell out the specific enforcement measures, in past years that has included DWI checkpoints.
While there will be no checkpoints in Port Washington this weekend, said Asst. Police Chief James Salerno, "but we are always looking for DWIs."
Dale said that violators will be prosecuted: “There will be no leniency shown to those who choose to drink and drive or those under the influence of drugs," Dale said.
The county officials issued these suggestions to those who venture out over the weekend:
- 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.
- Always buckle up – it is your best defense against a drunk driver.
“We want everyone to enjoy this holiday weekend but also to also make responsible and smart decisions during their celebrations,” Mangano said.
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