Summary
The committee approved a $10,000 additional Stop DWI High Visibility Enforcement Campaign grant to fund enforcement patrols and checkpoints by the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the City of Middletown Police Department.
The Orange County Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee voted to accept an additional $10,000 in federal subrecipient funds administered by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee through the Stop DWI Foundation, officials said.
County staff described the award as additional funds for the 2024–25 Stop DWI High Visibility Enforcement Campaign that will be allocated to the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the City of Middletown Police Department for enforcement patrols and checkpoints during designated enforcement periods.
A county staff member said the split between the sheriff and Middletown “is gonna depend on what initiatives we do … it could be 50‑50,” and that the enforcement periods are typically centered on holidays such as the night before Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
The grant application and acceptance were listed as legislative request 233; committee members moved, seconded and voted to approve the appropriation.
Why it matters: the funds pay for overtime and targeted enforcement during high‑risk times for impaired driving and allow municipal and county deputies to coordinate checkpoints and patrols. The county did not specify an exact patrol or night‑count tied to the $10,000 award.
What’s next: the sheriff’s office and the City of Middletown will determine the allocation of patrols and checkpoints and notify the county of scheduled enforcement details.
