MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County police agencies will participate in the upcoming New York State STOP-DWI Enforcement Crackdown, a statewide effort to crackdown on impaired driving. The crackdown will take place during Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 5-8.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff, municipal law enforcement agencies, and New York State Police will vigorously enforce laws related to driving while impaired. They will work together to reduce the number of impaired driving injuries and deaths, with special emphasis on driving while impaired by either alcohol or drugs. The most recent crackdown, during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, resulted in 129 vehicle stops, arrests, and summonses.

“Removing intoxicated drivers from Chautauqua County roadways is one of our top priorities,” said Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph A. Gerace. “If you choose to drink, don’t drive. Drunk drivers not only put themselves in danger, they threaten everyone who shares the highway with them.”

The funding for this event is provided by the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation through a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Chautauqua County was awarded $31,027 to continue STOP-DWI crackdowns during the New York State fiscal year that commenced October 1, 2015. Future crackdowns will take place around such holidays and special events as St. Patrick’s Day and Memorial Day.

The Chautauqua County STOP-DWI Program is funded by drinking and driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers.