Police agencies from across St. Lawrence County will be out in force as part of the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown during the Halloween weekend in an effort to reduce alcohol/drug-related traffic injuries and deaths.

“There will be no warnings,” said Michele James.

The crackdown runs Oct. 30 through Nov. 3, as Halloween weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving.

Funding for the crackdown is provided by the New York State STOP- DWI Foundation through a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

During this time period, law enforcement will vigorously enforce laws related to driving while impaired with special emphasis on impaired driving either by alcohol or drugs.

“Our message is simple, don’t drink or drug and drive,” James said.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.

“Violators can lose their licenses; pay increased insurance rates; may have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle; pay fines and surcharges as well as DMV fees, said James”

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

All drinking driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers fund the St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI Program.