As usual, New York State Police along with local law enforcement officers were out in force over Memorial Day weekend looking for drunk or otherwise impaired drivers. This year, over 200 DWI arrests were made statewide and thousands of citations handed out. Here’s a look at how that weekend went.
According to a recent report, police issued nearly 9,000 tickets for various offenses, including speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving and seat belt violations. They investigated 457 accidents, which resulted in two deaths and the injuring of 11 people. As far as impaired driving goes, 203 people were arrested. It is unclear if any of those charged with intoxicated driving were involved in the above-mentioned car crashes.
Along with increased patrols, sobriety checkpoints were set up all over the state. They ran from May 22 until 3 a.m. on May 26. The purpose of the checkpoints is to deter drunk driving, but they are also used to get drunk drivers off the road. It is unclear how many arrests were made at these locations.
A DWI charge is not something to brush off. In New York, the consequences if one is convicted can be severe, depending on the circumstances of one’s arrest. Anyone charged with DWI over Memorial Day weekend can help him or herself by seeking assistance tackling the matter as soon as possible. Legal counsel will not only be able to provide help with the criminal aspects of the situation but the administrative issues as well, ultimately working for the best outcome possible for the client.