Erie County Clerk
Press Releases

November 26, 2008

"DWI Holiday Hundred" Targets Drunken Drivers

ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHRIS COLLINS, SHERIFF TIMOTHY HOWARD, AND COUNTY CLERK KATHY HOCHUL JOINED AREA POLICE AGENCIES TODAY TO ANNOUNCE A HOLIDAY DWI ENFORCEMENT AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. ONE HUNDRED POLICE PATROLS FROM SEVENTEEN AGENCIES WILL SCOUR ERIE COUNTY IN SEARCH OF DRUNKEN DRIVERS BETWEEN TODAY AND NEW YEAR'S DAY. ERIE COUNTY PROBATION OFFICIALS ALSO ANNOUNCED A CRACKDOWN ON FELONY DWI PROBATIONERS DURING THIS PERIOD.

"A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON IS A SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON," SAID ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHRIS COLLINS. "WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT IF THOSE CELEBRATIONS INCLUDE ALCOHOL, YOU NEED TO PLAN AHEAD AN ARRANGE FOR A SAFE RIDE HOME. PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DANGEROUS DECISION TO DRINK AND DRIVE WILL FIND THAT ERIE COUNTY, AND ITS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CRACKING DOWN ON THIS RECKLESS BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

ERIE COUNTY SHERIFF TIMOTHY B. HOWARD WAS AMONG THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS PRESENT FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT. "CHEER DOES NOT COME IN A BOTTLE," HE SAID. "BUT IF YOU ARE OUT CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS, PLEASE DESIGNATE A SOBER DRIVER BEFORE THE PARTY BEGINS. DRUNK DRIVING IS NOT AN ACCIDENT; IT IS A CHOICE- A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ONE AT THAT."

ERIE COUNTY CLERK KATHY HOCHUL'S OFFICE WILL DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF REMINDERS AT 12 DMV LOCATIONS IN ERIE COUNTY. "AS ERIE COUNTY CLERK, AND MANAGER OF THE COUNTY'S AUTO BUREAUS, I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW DEVASTATING A DWI CONVICTION IS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND THEIR FAMILY," SHE SAID. "IF YOU ARE CONVICTED OF DWI, YOU LOSE YOUR LICENSE FOR A MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS. ASIDE FROM THE TREMENDOUS EXPENSE FOR AN ATTORNEY, FINES, AND INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES, THERE IS THE TOTAL DISRUPTION OF NORMAL LIFE, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF A JOB. IT IS SIMPLY NOT WORTH ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, WHILE RUINING YOUR OWN LIFE IN THE PROCESS. MY BEST ADVICE: THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK," SHE ADDED.

CAPTAIN MICHAEL NIGRELLI REPRESENTED THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE THRUWAY DIVISION THRUWAY, "THIS YEAR SO FAR, THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE ON THE THRUWAY HAVE MADE 422 DWI ARRESTS IN ERIE COUNTY. FORTY EIGHT OF THESE ARRESTS WERE THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. IT IS OUR FERVENT HOPE THAT, THROUGH DILIGENT ENFORCEMENT OF THE DWI LAWS, OUR EFFORTS HAVE MADE THE THRUWAY A SAFER PLACE TO TRAVEL FOR AREA MOTORISTS. WE ASK THAT EVERYONE MAKE THE LIFESAVING DECISION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!"

CITY OF TONAWANDA POLICE CHIEF CINDY YOUNG REPRESENTED ERIE COUNTY TOWN AND VILLAGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. "DWI CONTINUES TO BE AN ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY FOR ERIE COUNTY POLICE AGENCIES," SHE SAID. "THIS EFFORT WILL REACH EVERY CORNER OF OUR COUNTY. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH, THAT WE INTEND TO PREVENT DWI TRAGEDIES BY DETECTING AND ARRESTING DRUNKEN DRIVERS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY."

THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE WILL JOIN THE EFFORT AS WELL. CAPTAIN STEVEN NIGRELLI, TROOP A - CLARENCE, ADDED "STATE TROOPERS WILL BE OUT IN FORCE THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN AN EFFORT TO REMOVE DANGEROUS DRUNK DRIVERS FROM OUR ROADWAYS. SPECIFICALLY HERE IN ERIE COUNTY, STATE POLICE WILL UTILIZE BOTH ROVING SATURATION PATROLS AND CHECKPOINTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE ROADS SAFE FOR ALL OUR FAMILIES."

ACTING DIRECOR OF ERIE COUNTY'S PROBATION DEPARTMENT, RACHEL CYBULSKI, ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR AN INTENSIFIED EFFORT TO CHECK ALCOHOL AND DRIVING COMPLIANCE OF FELONY DWI OFFENDERS CURRENTLY ON PROBATION. "PROBATION OFFICERS WILL BE WORKING NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS, INCLUDING WEEK-ENDS AND EVENINGS,"SHE SAID. "OUR TEAM OF OFFICERS WILL MAKE OVER 100 UNANNOUNCED HOME VISITS TO FELONY DWI OFFENDERS BETWEEN TODAY AND NEW YEAR'S EVE," SHE ADDED.

CENTRAL POLICE SERVICES COMMISSIONER, PETER M. VITO, WAS PLEASED TO WELCOME THE PARTICIPANTS. "THE COOPERATION OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IS KEY TO THIS EFFORT," VITO SAID. "THE LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES, ERIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, AND THE EFFORTS OF COUNTY CLERK KATHLEEN HOCHUL AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT BROADEN THE IMPACT OF THE CAMPAIGN," HE ADDED.