"Nassau County - Long Island, New York"

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Tom Krumpter announced today at a press conference that this upcoming holiday weekend the NCPD will participate in a “STOP-DWI” program that will allocate additional police officers to conduct an extensive DWI enforcement initiative. In addition, County Executive Mangano unveiled a new demonstrative car, which is half NCPD Patrol and half taxi cab, to give motorists a visible choice, either go home by cab or be escorted by one our Nassau County Police Officers after being arrested for DWI.

The “STOP DWI” program is funded by DWI fines collected here in Nassau County and will provide the Nassau County Police Department and Police Departments throughout the county with additional funding that will be utilized to implement an effective DWI saturation enforcement strategy that has proven very successful in years past. The NCPD’s Highway Patrol Bureau will coordinate and plan this initiative that will target certain areas throughout the county. During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend in 2010, there were 93 DWI arrests made countywide.

“It has been no secret that Nassau County is tough on drunk drivers,” said County Executive Mangano. “No one is safe when there are drunk drivers on our roads. Last year there were 29 fatalities as a result of DWI. That’s 29 families destroyed needlessly. Had the drunk drivers involved in these fatalities been responsible in their decision making process, these 29 individuals would be here today with their families.”

“Our message is clear: if you drink and drive here in Nassau County you will be arrested and prosecuted.To date there have been more than 1,250 DWI arrests this year and a total of 3,675 DWI arrests last year. I urge everyone to be responsible and to plan accordingly not just this holiday weekend but always so that you and others return home safely to their loved ones,” said Acting Police Commissioner Krumpter.

“Now that the warm weather is finally here, many families and friends will gather for a variety of celebrations,” said County Executive Mangano. “We want everyone to make smart and responsible decisions not to drink and drive. Our new vehicle demonstrates that you have two choices a cab home or a ride in one of our patrol vehicles where you will be booked, processed and prosecuted.”

In attendance supporting Nassau’s efforts were Tom McCoy from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Marge Lee of DEDICATEDD, Brian Rosenberg of Restaurants Against Drunk Driving (RADD) and Larry Blessinger, owner of All Island Transportation.

"STOP-DWI" Memorial Day Weekend Holiday Enforcement