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Police / Police News / Southampton Press / 715694

Suffolk County District Attorney Deploys DWI Checkpoints, Patrols Over Labor Day Weekend

authorJD Allen on Sep 1, 2018

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office has increased patrols of the East End DWI Task Force in an attempt to reduce the number of individuals driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the Labor Day weekend.District Attorney Timothy D. Sini said in a statement Friday that the unofficial end of the summer on the East End should include celebrations—but responsibly. “If you’re going to be out drinking, make a plan to get home safely,” Mr. Sini said. “Officers on the East End DWI Task Force will be out in force to crack down on impaired driving and to protect our roadways from motorists who make the reckless decision to drink or do drugs and get behind the wheel of a car.” Several DWI checkpoints will be enforced at “strategic locations in high-traffic areas.” Police—from the New York State Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department, East Hampton Town Police Department, East Hampton Village Police Department, Quogue Village Police Department, Riverhead Police Department, Sag Harbor Police Department, Shelter Island Police Department, Southampton Town Police Department, Southampton Village Police Department, Southold Town Police Department and Westhampton Beach Police Department—will be equipped with Breathalyzers and will conduct field sobriety tests. The police officers were deputized earlier this year by the district attorney to have jurisdiction to serve throughout the East End.The East End DWI Task Force, which was formed in 2012, is funded through the district attorney’s office’s asset forfeiture program as well as the Suffolk County STOP-DWI program. Last year, nine people were arrested by the task force during the Labor Day weekend.“The police departments on the East End do an outstanding job keeping residents and visitors safe year-round, particularly during the summer season when the population explodes,” Mr. Sini said. “Through the East End DWI Task Force, we are able to share and deploy resources in an even more effective, strategic way during holiday weekends and other times of high traffic. I thank and commend all the law enforcement officers on the Task Force for their work in ensuring that our roadways are safe from impaired drivers.”

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