SYRACUSE -- Syracuse police are preparing to crack down on drunk driving this New Year's Eve.
Captain Shannon Trice is commander of the SPD's patrol division. He says the department intends to have extra DWI patrol cars on the streets as well as beefed up police presence at Hanover and Armory Squares where New Year's Eve revelers will be gathering. Sobriety checkpoints will also be setup, along with extra patrol cars on interstates into and out of Syracuse.
Trice points out that since November 23rd, when a DWI crackdown for the holidays started, there has been 79 DWI arrests, a 20% increase from last year. There have been 709 vehicle crashes, 22 of which were alcohol related. Trice advises people that it's not worth it to drink and drive and suggests people find a designated driver or call a taxi.
If police are going to be out in full force, so are cab drivers. Nancy Morrison manages four taxi cab services in Syracuse and says companies have been gearing up for New Year's. She intends to have 46 cabs on the road on New Year's Eve, and has notified all of their drivers to report to work along with support staff.
Morrison says, "When people call for a cab we'll be able to respond in 20 minutes." She advises people to only call taxi cab companies to be assured they are dealing with licensed legal drivers.
Because New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the state does not grant all night liquor licenses - so bars will be closing at 2:00 a.m. this year.
