DA Singas, LB officials announce DWI crackdown for Memorial Day weekend

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Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and Long Beach Police Commissioner Michael Tangney announced heightened patrols and drunken driving enforcement for the Memorial Day Weekend at a press conference on Thursday.

“Sadly, 10,000 Americans lose their lives every year to alcohol-related crashes. That is inexcusable, and it’s preventable. And here in Nassau County, we take drunk driving very seriously,” Singas said.

The program will go into effect in Long Beach on Saturday. Singas has supported the DWI enforcement programs in Long Beach for the third year in a row. Last year, three people were arrested for DWI during Memorial Day weekend, and in 2015, seven people were arrested. This year, 58 people have been arrested for DWI.

“I am proud to partner with the Long Beach Police Department to crack down on DWI with enhanced enforcement paid for with funds seized from criminals to ensure that those who drive drunk on our roads and endanger our families are caught, prosecuted and held accountable,” Singas said in a statement.

The crackdown will consist of highly trained LBPD patrols strategizing their locations around the city throughout the weekend and trying to prevent drunken and drugged driving occurrences.

“We are so appreciative of the continued support by DA Singas in assisting the Long Beach Police Department in its attempts to eradicate drunk driving,” Tangney said in a statement.

The initiative will be staffed by officers who are trained in conducting field sobriety tests, breath analysis and drug recognition and will also be in place during the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.

“Long Beach Police Department works hard every day to ensure our streets are safe for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, and we take the life-threatening act of driving under the influence very seriously," City Manager Jack Schnirman said. “If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a designated driver, or take our wonderful public transportation here in Long Beach, or take a cab. Do not drink and drive.”

Long Beach police will also monitor people leaving bars, marinas and other establishments for signs of impairment and warn them of the consequences of drunken driving or boating.