St. Lawrence County residents are being warned that local police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving Aug. 18 through Sept. 3.

While we spend the Labor Day holiday and the end of summer celebrating with our loved ones, the New York State Police, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies are stepping up DWI enforcement efforts on impaired driving, either by alcohol or drugs, to crack down on this deadly epidemic and save lives. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on Aug. 18 and will end on Sept. 3.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.

The crackdown is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation.

Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with blood alcohol concentrations [BACs] of .08 of higher). According to the NHTSA in 2015, there were 10,265 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

“There will be no warnings,” said Michele James, St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI. “Our message is simple—Don’t drink or drug and drive. Have a plan to get home safely. Don’t Drive, Get a Ride. Violators will lose their licenses; pay increased insurance rates, fines, surcharges and DMV fees; and may have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. Driving impaired is not worth it.”

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. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP- DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend