Number of intoxicated drivers drops in latest DWI crackdown

Joint Press Release by Albion, Medina, Holley Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office & New York State Police

On Wednesday night beginning at 9 p.m. until 3 this morning, the Albion Police Department hosted and supervised a multi-agency Orleans County Wide DWI Saturation Patrol.

This detail combined the efforts from every law enforcement agency in the county along with New York State Parole, the Orleans County Probation Department and the U.S. Border Patrol.

The agencies involved consisted of the Albion Police, Medina Police, Holley Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Orleans County Probation, New York State Parole and the U.S. Border Patrol.

The detail results are as follows:

• DWI Arrests: 2 in the Village of Albion – (1 as Felony) (Albion PD), 1 in the Town of Murray (State Police), 1 in the Town of Yates (State Police)

• Traffic Stops: 91

• Tickets Issued: 18

• Agency Break Down: Albion PD – 30 stops; Medina PD – 23 stops; Holley PD – 11 stops; Orleans County Sheriff’s Office – 9 stops; NY State Police – 7 stops

The Albion Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies are committed to making the roadways safe for all those who travel upon them.

This is the fifth year a Saturation Patrol was conducted. Compared to previous years, this year’s detail had a comparable number of vehicle stops as previous years but the percentage of intoxicated drivers has decreased again from previous years.

The data from this year’s detail indicates that less than 4 percent of the motorists stopped were intoxicated, whereas in previous years we have seen data as high as 20 percent of the motorists stopped were intoxicated.

This is positive news in our efforts to reduce accidents caused by intoxicated drivers. The reduction of DWI arrests is a positive and motivating factor when these types of details are conducted.

Many believe that law enforcement want to make more DWI arrests during these details. However we like to see the opposite. Law enforcement stopped many people and found the overwhelming majority to be responsible and not under the influence of alcohol. We also encountered several intoxicated passengers with sober designated drivers.

Intoxicated drivers do not follow jurisdictional lines, so we decided that we would not either. The Albion Police Department and its partners are planning similar details for the future. We will continue to use every resource and tool available to create a reduction in offenders and arrest those who continue to endanger others by driving while intoxicated.

The commitment and dedication by the officers, deputies and troopers who worked the detail undoubtedly saved lives in Orleans County by making arrests and sending a clear message to deter others from Drinking and Driving.

– Roland D. Nenni III, Chief of Police for Albion and Holley police departments