State police crack down on drunken, impaired driving for Super Bowl weekend

State police are stepping up their crackdowns on drunken and reckless driving this Super Bowl weekend. This includes increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints.

Drivers are also being reminded to move over for emergency vehicles.

If you’re convicted of impaired driving, you could lose your license, along with a $10,000 fine and seven years in prison.

Last year’s campaign had 140 people arrested for impaired driving and 8,923 total tickets.

The crackdown runs through Monday.

State Police have these tips:

• If you are hosting, you’re the team captain! Designate a responsible driver now to help your guests get home safely
• Ask all of your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance or help them arrange ridesharing with sober drivers. If you don’t drink, offer to drive guests home.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter—this is a good time to serve coffee and dessert.
• Sign up online for a ridesharing service or keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from any guests who are thinking of driving after drinking.
• The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.
• Remember, if you serve a guest alcohol and he or she gets in a crash that night, you could be held liable.
• If an underage person drinks and drives, the parent or guardian can be legally liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.