Local law enforcement says holiday weekend will bring extra road patrols

Rick Pfeiffer -, Niagara Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
·1 min read

May 24—Law enforcement agencies across Niagara County say they will be out "in force" for the Memorial Day weekend in what they describe as a "high visibility campaign to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving."

The statewide STOP DWI/High Visibility Engagement Campaign began Friday and will continue through the end of Monday.

Sheriff Michael Filicetti said the coordinated effort is designed to "reduce the number of impaired driving-related injuries and death."

"The Memorial Day weekend typically shows an increase in traffic throughout Niagara County," the sheriff said. "All law enforcement agencies in the county will have extra patrols looking for aggressive driving behaviors and DWI offenses."

Filicetti said the goal was for "everyone to have a safe weekend."

Local law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff's office, New York State Park Police, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Town of Niagara, Lewiston, Middleport, Somerset, Lockport and Youngstown police departments, along with the New State Police, conducting a similar campaign between April 22 and 26.

The combined agencies issued 751 tickets for violations including 139 speeding tickets, 32 cell phone tickets, 33 seatbelt violations, 9 DWI charges and 316 other vehicle and traffic offenses including: disobeying traffic control devices, following too closely, reckless driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and various vehicle equipment and inspection violations.

"This enforcement effort netted results that will start to make an impact on driving behaviors," Filicetti said. "Our work isn't done, we must continue traffic details to make our roadways safer."

Lewiston Police Chief Frank Previte, who chairs Niagara County's Traffic Safety Board, said the high visibility campaigns "reduce traffic collisions through targeted enforcement and traffic safety education."