NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Westchester County Office of Drug Abuse and Prevention and STOP-DWI, Westchester Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth Program, Taxi and Limousine Commission all under the umbrella of the Westchester County Police Department joined together for prom safety checkpoints, completing four so far this year.
“This type of enforcement works,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “We don’t want to restrict our young people from having a good time, but we want them to be safe and smart, so their memories of the prom will be good ones.”
While many proms are hosted off-campus, the checkpoints are considered an extension of school grounds. Vehicles are stopped and inspected for drugs, alcohol, and compliance with TLC rules and regulations.
The Office of Drug Abuse Prevention and STOP-DWI makes information available to schools and students ahead of prom season, including assemblies for safety measures, letters to principals and brochures. Brochures and fact sheets are available in both English and Spanish,
The program began in 2003.
Checkpoints are already scheduled for other Westchester County proms this year.