State police and local law enforcement are implementing a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign this week through Sept. 5 including Labor Day weekend.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign will be carried out by state police with assistance from local law enforcement.

The aim is to reduce deaths and injuries caused by motorists driving drunk or impaired by drugs.

This is a companion to the campaign by St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI from Aug. 19 through Sept. 5 with the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies along with state police stepping up DWI enforcement efforts on impaired driving, either by alcohol or drugs.

Impaired driving is a major contributor to crash fatalities. One-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers, according to a press release from the governor’s office. In New York State, alcohol involvement was listed as a contributing factor in more than 7,000 police-reported crashes in 2015, while illegal drugs contributed to more than 800 crashes. Additionally, impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion each year. The penalties for impaired driving are accordingly strict. Drivers convicted of DWI or DWAI three or more times in 15 years face a Class D felony charge, up to seven years in prison, and a fine up to $10,000.

Crackdown periods coincide with times when large numbers of impaired drivers are likely to be on the roadways, including Halloween, the winter holiday season, the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Last year, 41 counties participated in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day crackdown, resulting in 237 DWI/DWAI arrests, 17 Drug Recognition Expert Evaluations, 26 DWAI-drug only arrests, 317 other arrests, and more than 3,400 Vehicle and Traffic Law summonses.

Drunk driving is often a symptom of a larger problem: alcohol misuse and abuse. New Yorkers can find help for addiction and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). Addiction treatment providers can be located on the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Access Help website or on the Treatment Availability Dashboard. For additional tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing underage drinking or drug use, visit the state’s Talk2Prevent website.