Local police don’t want to see you add handcuffs to your Halloween costume or end up treating injuries or worse following an accident while under the influence this year.

St. Lawrence County law enforcement will participate in a statewide STOP-DWI Halloween crackdown enforcement effort Oct. 27 through Nov. 1.

Halloween should be a time for fun…trick or treating, costume parties, haunted houses and eating candy.

However, Halloween can also be a dangerous time due to increased rates of drunk/drugged driving and pedestrian activity.

While we spend time trick or treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.

St. Lawrence County’s STOP-DWI Program will join forces with local law enforcement agencies during this upcoming Halloween holiday period to aggressively target drunk/ drugged drivers.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be stepping up patrols and scheduling sobriety road checks.

Drunk/ drugged driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle-related fatalities in the United States and Halloween is one of the most prevalent nights for driving under the influence.

In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has determined fatal crashes involving drunk or drugged drivers occur three times more often on Halloween than on New Year’s Eve.

Halloween is the one day of the year where pedestrian-involved accidents are at their highest.