Oneida County Joins Statewide STOP-DWI Fourth of July…

Oneida County Joins Statewide STOP-DWI Fourth of July Campaign

Enforcement Operation Runs July 1-5

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that the Sheriff’s Office, local police agencies and New York State Police will be participating in a special Fourth of July statewide operation to combat impaired driving.

The STOP-DWI Impaired Driving High Visibility Engagement Campaign begins July 1 and ends July 5.

“Americans love to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, food and fireworks, but all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation's roads,” Picente said. “Our law enforcement agencies will be out in full force these next few days making sure our roadways are as safe as possible.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,460 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period from 2017 to 2021. Of those deaths, 38% of the drivers were alcohol impaired.

“The Sheriff’s Office is committed to doing all we can to keep our roadways safe, and two of the most important ways are to remove drunk drivers and lower speeds,” said Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. “We have always had zero tolerance for driving while intoxicated in Oneida County and the upcoming holiday weekend is no different.”

The STOP-DWI July 4th High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, designed specifically to combat the increase in impaired driving. The campaign also targets Memorial Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the Holiday Season, Super Bowl weekend, and St. Patrick’s Day, all historically deadly periods on the road due to impaired driving.

Research done by NHTSA shows that programs like the High Visibility Engagement Campaign, which publicize and enforce the consequences of impaired driving, lead to reductions in fatalities by reducing the incidence of impaired driving.

For more information on STOP-DWI efforts in Oneida County, please visit www.ocgov.net/STOPDWI.