2017 ANNUAL REPORT
STOP-DWI STOP-DWI stands for Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated. New York s STOP-DWI program is the Nations first and, to date, only self sustaining impaired driving program. STOP-DWI efforts are funded entirely from fines paid by convicted drunken drivers. No tax dollars are used to fund or supplement the program which functions as a financially self-sustaining alcohol and highway safety program. Described as the Best in the Country New York s STOP-DWI Program was created by the State Legislature in 1981 and is recognized nationally as a leader in traffic safety. The STOP-DWI Program has a long track record for reducing alcohol-related crashes and fatalities. One of the secrets to its success is that is that it empowers each county to coordinate their own local efforts at reducing alcohol and drug related traffic incidents. The Main Mission of STOP-DWI is: Reduce the number of persons killed or injured in alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes. To promote DWI prevention as a public priority Coordinate local efforts in Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Probation, Rehabilitation, Public Information, Education, and Administration.
The Otsego County STOP-DWI Program provides funding to agencies and programs across the county for the purpose of reducing the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol which result in traffic -related crashes and fatalities. Funded programs fall into the categories of education, public information, enforcement, prosecution, treatment, and adjudication. The community benefits directly from this program in two ways. The first is through stricter enforcement of DWI laws enabling local law enforcement to get drunk drivers off the road. The second is its education programs that result in more people rejecting alcohol abuse while enforcing responsible decision making. The Otsego County STOP-DWI Programs Mission is to deter alcohol and drug impaired driving through enhanced enforcement, prosecution, rehabilitation and educational services. The Otsego County STOP - DWI program supports traffic safety initiatives for the Otsego County Sheriff s Office, the Oneonta Police Department, the University Police at the State University of New York at Oneonta, and the Cooperstown Police Department by providing funding for overtime, equipment, and training. Educational programs in Otsego County are supported by providing public relations services concerning alcohol and drug-related offenses, as well as supporting the SADD Run. Funding is also provided to the Otsego County District Attorney s Office for prosecuting these offenses and to the Otsego County Probation Department.
2017 DWI ARREST SUMMARY Total DWI Arrests in Otsego County 311 Youngest Person Arrested for DWI 19 Oldest Person Arrested for DWI 75 Total Female DWI Arrests 98 Total Male DWI Arrests 215 Lowest BAC Arrest.03 Highest BAC Arrest.31 Total Chemical Tests Taken 191 Total Refusals 32 Total Breath Tests Taken 179 Total Urine Tests Taken 12 Blood alcohol content (BAC), also called blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes. Blood Alcohol Content is the legal name for BAC but There were 59 Alcohol related crashed in Otsego County in 2017; 12 of the crashes involved Personal Injury; 47 crashes involved Property Damage; and there were No Fatal Crashes involving drug or alcohol related factors.
MOCK DWI CRASH GILBERTSVILLE-MOUNT UPTON CENTRAL SCHOOL In May, Sergeant Michael Stalter and Deputy J.R. Koren assisted with a presentation of a Mock DWI Crash at the Gilbertsville-Mount Upon Central School. The Mock drunk driving crash was organized by members of the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) organization. In order to make it fully realistic, the SADD chapter got all the local emergency agencies and personnel involved in the two hour event with graphically recreates a DWI fatality crash. After the crash, the students involved come forward and answer questions about the process. The medic who treats the patients talks in-depth about the injuries that they sustained as well. In most cases, the medic will describe real injuries that were sustained in real drunk driving crashes, explaining to the students that these injuries are as likely to happen to people riding with the drunk driver as they are to passengers of the car that got hit.
MOCK DWI CRASH GILBERTSVILLE-MOUNT UPTON CENTRAL SCHOOL
19th ANNUAL SADD STRIDES FOR SAFETY EVENT Sunday, April 2nd, marked the 19 th annual SADD Strides for Safety 5k Run/Walk and Health Fair. In 2017, over 30 exhibitors partisipated at the SADD Strides for Safety Health Fair, located in the Oneonta High School Gym. Some of the activities included face painting and games. as well as a variety of information surrounding safe and healthy decisions. The intention of the SADD Strides for Safety 5K Run/Walk and Health Fair is to connect community; to stay active and healthy, and to support our youth in making good choices. The Health Fair presends the 5K Run / Walk that has been growing each year. This event raises money for local SADD chapters for providing after-prom parties and other SADD programs and activities as well as provides a means of collectly partisipating in a full-filled event. The 5K Run/Walk has always been noticed as the best spring run in the area. As a speedy but slightly demanding run, area runners have always used this race to start their summer running programs. Otsego County STOP-DWI was once again happy to assist and participate in these events.
Amy Stock Memorial Trailer On October 11 th, a traveling memorial exhibiting the wrecked car of Amy Stock, the sister of a Cooperstown woman killed by a drunk driver last July, was unveiled at the Emergency Services garage at The Meadows Complex. Almost 100 friends and well-wishers gathered at the event to honor the Stock family Amy s parents and six brothers and sisters who diverted their grief toward a positive outcome. The effort was a collaboration of Mrs. Anania and her family, county Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr., ONC BOCES (represented today by Assistant Superintendent Joe Booan), and Medical Coaches of Oneonta (represented by Len Marsh). The first appearance of the Amy Stock Memorial was at Teen Safety Day Thursday, October 13th at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, where 700 teens were present. The trailer, which will travel to high schools and colleges around the state, features her mangled car, as well as supporting audio and visual documentation to raise awareness about the consequences of driving while intoxicated. Amy s sister, Eileen Anania, contacted Otsego County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. to help create the memorial, which was built by Medical Coaches in Oneonta and prepped by students at ONC BOCES, under the guidance of Joseph Booan, assistant superintendent.
Amy Stock Memorial Trailer During a Tour of School s in Fulton County
Amy Stock Memorial Trailer Mohonasen Central School Northville Central School
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS Throughout 2017, Otsego County Law Enforcement Agencies conducted numerous Sobriety Checkpoint Operations through the STOP-DWI Program. During a sobriety checkpoint, drivers are briefly detained and interviewed after which suspicious drivers are subject to sobriety tests. The goal of these checkpoints is to weed out inebriated drivers and therefore keep our roads safer. These operations are often set up late at night or in the early morning hours, on weekends, and on holidays associated with drug and alcohol consumption. Upon suspicion that the driver has consumed alcohol, due to the officer noting the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, or other signs, the stopped driver is required to exit the vehicle and asked to take a series of roadside Field sobriety tests. These tests help the officer to determine whether the person's physical and/or mental skills are impaired. If the officer determines based on her observations during the tests that the driver is impaired and has probable cause to arrest the person for suspicion of driving under the influence, the arrestee will be asked to take an alcohol breath test or a blood test.
Traveling Exhibit Working with New York State STOP-DWI, The Otsego County STOP-DWI Program was able to display one of their traveling exhibits throughout Otsego County. The Exhibit Series explores the stories of crash victims across New York State. These forensic-style exhibits focus on high-risk factors such as: the combination of driving and alcohol and/or drug use, excessive speed, and distractions, such as phone use and texting while driving. In addition, the importance of seat belt use is underscored in cases where a lack of seat belt use greatly increased the severity of a victim s injuries or contributed to a victim s death. THE OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR AVERAGES BETWEEN 35,000 TO 40,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY.
PRESENTATION SERVICES AND DISPLAYS Otsego County STOP-DWI offers exceptional and informative presentations for a wide array of audiences. We have provided educational speakers helping schools and organizations promote healthy lives through the prevention of substance abuse and related problems. Utilizing subject matter experts, our training and presentation services have helped civic organizations, educational institutions and businesses provide accurate and useful information on traffic safety, substance abuse and prevention strategies.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTSEGO COUNTY STOP-DWI PROGRAM PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE http://www.otsegocounty.com/depts/shf/stopdwi.htm Thank You for your interest in the Otsego County STOP-DWI Program. Your support is very important and we appreciate all the individuals and organizations that participate in supporting our effort to empower while we make Otsego County safe. Sheriff/STOP DWI Coordinator: Richard J. Devlin, Jr. Otsego County Sheriff's Office: 172 County Highway 33W Cooperstown, NY 13326 Phone: 607-547-4271 or