New York State Troopers in the North Country will be on the roads beginning tonight looking for drunk drivers and underage drinkers.

Sate police, along with local law enforcement, will increase patrols to crack down on drunk driving and underage drinking this Halloween weekend. The special traffic enforcement detail will begin Friday, Oct. 30 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 1.

State police report that more than 40 percent of vehicle fatalities and 19 percent of pedestrian fatalities across the U.S. on Halloween night involved a drunk driver.

Motorists that are traveling this weekend can expect to see a number of sobriety checkpoints and additional patrols. Troopers will also conduct a special enforcement detail to crack down on the sale of alcohol to minors.

State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said, “Halloween can be fun, but it can also turn tragic if people get behind the wheel after drinking. Children will be out walking after dark and drivers need to exercise extreme caution. Never drink and drive. Troopers will be out in force making sure this Halloween is a safe one on the roads."

Troopers will be using both marked vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law. CITE vehicles allow the trooper to better observe driving violations. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

During last year’s Halloween initiative there were more than 720 crashes that killed three people and injured more than 150 others. Troopers arrested 195 people for DWI and issued more than 9,700 tickets for speeding, distracted driving and other traffic violations. This Halloween, if you drink and drive, you may face jail time, the loss of your license, higher insurance rates, and many other unanticipated expenses. An impaired driving charge carries a maximum fine of $10,000.

Here are some easy steps from the state police to enjoy a safe Halloween without jeopardizing lives on the road.

· Before the festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.

· Before you start drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.

· If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.

· If available, use your community’s sober ride program

· Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

· If you see a drunk driver on the road, call local law enforcement. You could save a life.