Troop K drunk driving awareness campaign

MILLBROOK — On Tuesday, June 30, New York State Police at Troop K headquarters held a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) awareness and enforcement event on their helipad. The event was held to remind and educate residents of the risks and dangers of impaired and distracting driving, in time for the Fourth of July weekend. Organizers hope the lessons will carry over into the rest of the summer and beyond.

According to Capt. Michael Jankowiak, the holiday period officially began July 3 and lasted through  July 6. During that time, the New York State Police had additional enforcement details “to detour drinking and driving, speeding and distractive driving,” said Jankowiak. 

Distracted driving has remained one of the highest causes of fatalities on New York State highways and nationwide, according to Jankowiak. 

Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro was at last week’s event; he said Dutchess County will continue its coordinated effort with the New York State Police and local law enforcement throughout the county to both educate and detour DWI and impaired driving in all of its forms.

“We have a very aggressive effort through our Stop DWI program and the funding we receive from the state of New York and, of course, Dutchess County’s own commitment through the Sheriff’s Office,” said Molinaro 

Molinaro also reminded folks that Dutchess County has a Social Host Law, which makes it illegal for families to host parties with alcoholic beverages for those who are underage. Violation of the law leads to increased penalties.  

“As you come out of high school graduation weekend and Fourth of July holiday weekend  … we see far too many tragic aftermaths of young people accessing alcohol,” Molinaro Said.  

Last year, New York state issued more than 10,000 tickets during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. More than 180 people were arrested while intoxicated. The police investigated more than 650 accidents.

Jankowiak stressed the importance of having a designated driver. 

“If you drink, you absolutely positively, simply cannot drive,” he said.

Fourth of July has become one of the most dangerous holidays during the year. In 2013, 512 people nationwide were killed as a result of crashes. Of those 512, 199 (39 percent), involved operators who were driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater.

“.08 is the legal limit,” said Jankowiak. “Once you’ve hit .08 you have committed a crime.”

In anticipation of the holiday, Troop K conducted a series of experiments to illustrate what alcohol can do to a driver. 

“Hopefully it will dispel those rumors that are out there that some people say ‘just a couple drinks and I’ll be fine to drive’,” said Jankowiak. “You’ll see that is absolutely not the case.”

Drug Recognition Expert Stephanie Higgins performed a couple of sobriety tests on two volunteers; one was intoxicated and the other was sober. 

Higgins first gave simple instructions; she then moved a pen-like object with a blue light in front of their eyes. The impaired subject demonstrated “choppy” eyes and a sway in his stance. Higgins also instructed the volunteers to take nine heel-to-toe steps forward and back. 

Higgins then gave the impaired volunteer a Breathalyzer test. The results showed a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .16, double the legal limit. His last drink had been at 10:07 a.m. and the test was done at around noon. 

“BAC is higher by the time you decide to drive because alcohol is not only a psychomotor impairment, it’s a cognitive impairment,” said Jankowiak. “You don’t even know what you are doing and what you are capable of not doing.”

Cones were set up on the helipad to create a driving course. Volunteers put on fatal vision goggles and attempted to complete the course with golf carts. 

“Fatal vision goggles are going to simulate the psychomotor impairment, but you have to realize the people who are wearing them haven’t been drinking alcohol so their cognitive process is still functioning,” said Jankowiak. “It’s a very good simulation but it’s not nearly the same as someone who is illegally intoxicated. They are far more dangerous.”

Dutchess County “Stop DWI” Program  Coordinator Bill Johnson reminded the public that  drunk driving is 100 percent preventable.

“We still average 1,400 driving arrests every year in Dutchess County,” said Johnson. “That’s about 125 arrests every month of the year.”

The “Stop DWI” program coordinates enforcement and education activities throughout Dutchess County. It’s paid for by fines from people convicted of impaired driving offenses within the county.

The state police’s campaign for drunk driving awareness and prevention is year long. Media events are held during most of the major holidays.