The LaGrange Fire District is honored to have been invited by the Dutchess County Sheriffs Office to assist in the Statewide Labor Day Weekend STOP-DWI program. The LaGrange Fire District has staged three heavily damaged automobiles in front of each of their fire houses to represent the dangers of driving while intoxicated. Educational banners have been attached to the vehicles in an effort to further educate motorists on the STOP-DWI program. We would like to thank the DCSO for inviting us to participate in this program and please find the official release from the DCSO below.

Dutchess County Participating in Statewide STOP-DWI
Labor Day Crackdown Enforcement Effort

High visibility community engagement in effect through Sept. 5th

Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County are participating in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving this Labor Day weekend. The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign is currently underway and will conclude following Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5th.

Labor Day is one of the busiest travel times of the year and marks the unofficial end of summer. New York State Police, county sheriffs’ offices, municipal law enforcement agencies and local STOP-DWI programs are collaborating across the state and are out in force during this coordinated effort to reduce the number of impaired driving-related injuries and deaths.

County Executive Molinaro said, “For more than a century, the United States has honored the American worker by celebrating Labor Day, recognizing the tremendous work and accomplishments that have made this country great. Many will celebrate Labor Day weekend, but we ask those to plan to include alcohol in their observance of this holiday to also plan for a safe ride home. Safety takes no holiday, and as always, we thank the devoted men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to rid our roadway of impaired drivers – during this holiday weekend and every day.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

The STOP-DWI Labor Day/End of Summer High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign also targets Memorial Day, July 4th, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the winter holiday season, Super Bowl weekend and St. Patrick’s Day.

Residents are encouraged to have a sober plan. STOP-DWI New York urges residents to download its mobile app, “Have a Plan,” which enables drivers to find a safe ride home www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp. Impaired driving is completely preventable.