St. Lawrence County residents should expect heavy law enforcement presence over Independence Day weekend.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on July 1 and will end on July 5.

Fourth of July extended weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving, according to St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI. This year the fourth of July falls on a Monday so the group expects heavy traveling to begin on Friday, July 1 and run through Tuesday, July 5.

In 2014, over the 4th of July holiday (6 p.m. July 3 to 5:59 a.m. July 7), 164 people were killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, according to the group.

Those deaths the group says are preventable make up 41 percent of the 397 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the 4th of July period.

The July Fourth Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation. The funding for this crackdown was 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, according to the group.

“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. The financial costs of that DWI conviction can start at $4,500. Driving impaired is not worth it.”