Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

The Mayor and the Police Commissioner also unveiled a new public awareness campaign as part of the ongoing DWI initiative. Posters will be placed throughout the City in establishments licensed to sell alcohol reminding New Yorkers that the Police Department will continue to seize cars as part of its successful DWI initiative. Since the initiative began on February 22, 1999, a total of 11,372 arrests have been made: 8,990 were for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and 2,382 were for Driving While Impaired. A total of 4004 vehicles have been seized.

"Drunk driving is a violent crime that shatters the lives of thousands of people every year," the Mayor said. "Fortunately, drunk driving is also a crime that can be prevented when drivers adhere to a simple rule: if you decide to drink, don't get behind the wheel. Instead, New Yorkers should plan ahead, leave the car at home, and designate a driver or use a taxi or car service."

The Mayor continued, "During the Fourth of July and throughout the summer, the Police Department will be stopping cars and looking for motorists who may be impaired at undisclosed DWI checkpoints in all five boroughs. If you are drinking and driving and the Police Department stops you, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and your car may be seized -- permanently."

Police Commissioner Kerik said, "The NYPD has achieved great success in sending home the message that drunk driving will not be tolerated on the streets of New York City. Drunk driving accidents - and the deaths they cause - are down significantly because drivers have learned that mixing alcohol and driving not only endangers lives, but it can cause you to lose your car. The goal of this public awareness campaign is to reinforce that message and hopefully, make the City's roadways safer than they've ever been."

In 1999, 15,786 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the United States -- more than 38 percent of all traffic fatalities. More than a million people were injured in alcohol-related crashes. In New York State, 344 of the 1,548 traffic fatalities registered in 1999 were alcohol-related - more than 22 percent. During the 1999 July 4th holiday, more than 44 percent of all traffic-related fatalities nationwide were alcohol-related.