Ithaca PD adding more patrols for Holiday

Ithaca Police Department Chief of Police John R. Barber would like to remind the Ithaca community to be safe and sensible if you chose to drink alcohol during the upcoming July 4th weekend. From July 1st to July 5th the Ithaca Police Department will have extra patrols on the streets looking for drunk drivers. These patrols are funded by the Tompkins County Stop DWI program. The goal of the Tompkins County Stop DWI program is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug related traffic crashes and to promote DWI prevention as a public priority. Most people do not realize that the July 4th weekend is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to alcohol-impaired crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the percentage of fatalities from impaired driving increase dramatically during the July 4th weekend. Chief Barber recently stated “If you chose to drink alcohol, planning ahead by designating a sober driver is a great first step to avoiding a tragedy. You place yourself and everyone else in harm’s way if you drink and drive. Please please please if you see someone who is driving drunk call the police immediately. Let’s all celebrate America’s Birthday safely and responsibly”. Officers on patrol will have zero tolerance for any traffic violations observed. Officers will be patrolling various hours throughout the day and night. If you see a drunk driver call police immediately.