By CaraLynn Caulfield
As one of the deadliest weekends for impaired driving approaches, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has launched its 2025 Summer STOP-DWI campaign to crack down on drunk and drugged driving across the county.
The campaign, announced July 1 by Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., will bring increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints from Huntington to the Hamptons beginning July 4th weekend and continuing throughout the summer. The initiative targets all impaired drivers but places special focus on young adults, who accounted for nearly half of alcohol-related fatalities during last year’s July 4th holiday.
Suffolk County is already on pace to exceed last year’s total of 209 DWI-related arrests, with 116 made so far in 2025, according to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. County Executive Ed Romaine warned of the life-altering consequences of impaired driving, particularly for young people.
“This holiday weekend, do not make the decision to get in a car while drunk or impaired by drugs or alcohol,” Romaine said. “In this day of ridesharing and constant communication, there is simply no excuse to get behind the wheel when you’re under the influence. Young people need to learn this early — drinking and driving can ruin your life and especially ruin the lives of others. Suffolk County law enforcement is out there looking for you.”
The campaign also includes public outreach and education — particularly through social media — aimed at encouraging responsible choices and reaching at-risk age groups.
Speaking at the campaign launch event in Yaphank, Sheriff’s Office intern Emily Cordano shared a personal story about her close friend, Andrew McMorris, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2018 while hiking with his Boy Scout troop. Cordano urged young drivers to think about the long-term consequences of impaired driving and to make safer decisions behind the wheel.
Officials encourage all residents to plan ahead, use designated drivers or ride-share services, and avoid mixing alcohol and driving — especially during what is considered one of the most dangerous times of the year on Long Island roads.