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Q&A
Concerns over decrease in DWI arrests and spike in fatalities
0:30:47
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92 sec
Council Member Yusef Salaam raises concerns about the significant decrease in DWI arrests since the pandemic and a recent spike in DWI fatalities. He questions whether there's a connection between these trends and asks for explanations.
- DWI arrests decreased from nearly 7,000 per year pre-pandemic to around 3,500 in fiscal year 2024
- DWI fatalities tripled between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, increasing from 11 to 34 deaths
- NYPD Inspector Brian O'Sullivan reports a 2% increase in DWI arrests and emphasizes ongoing efforts to focus on this issue
Yusef Salaam
0:30:47
Similarly similarly glaring is the decrease in arrests for driving while intoxicated.
0:30:58
Prior to the pandemic, the city averaged nearly 7,000 DWI arrests each year, a figure that decreased to fewer than 3,000 DWI arrests in fiscal year twenty twenty two and has since increased slightly to around 3,500 such arrests in fiscal year twenty four.
0:31:17
It also must be noted that DWI fatalities tripled between fiscal year twenty three and fiscal year twenty four increasing from eleven deaths to thirty four deaths.
0:31:29
Does the NYPD believe that there is a connection between the decrease in DWI arrests and the recent spike in DWI fatalities and if not, what explains both of these trends?
Brian O'Sullivan
0:31:52
Good morning, chair.
0:31:53
So for our DWI, driving while intoxicated arrests were up two percent, as you said, thirty five sixty eight versus thirty four seventy seven.
0:32:02
You know, we're dedicated to go out there.
0:32:04
We have our patrol officers, our highway officers, our citywide traffic task force.
0:32:09
It comes up at traffic stat.
0:32:10
We're definitely focusing, and, you know, there has been an increase with the DUI arrests.
0:32:15
We're gonna be out there focusing on it, and hopefully this year we'll have a better year.