Niagara County has announced plans to enhance its DWI enforcement.

The grant will go toward the county's ignition interlock device program. Those devices work as breathalyzers that will prevent someone who has been drinking from being able to operate a vehicle.

It is intended to target those individuals who violate the state’s IID requirements.

“IID’s are very effective in preventing repeat drunken driving offenses, but too often those convicted of DWI are failing to install these devices,” said Deborah LaRock, director of Niagara County Probation. “This grant will help us focus resources on enforcing compliance with IID mandates.” 

Targeted enforcement began will run through Labor Day.

From Aug. 15, 2010 through December 31, 2024, 204,126 offenders were ordered to install an IID and 52,956 IIDs were installed across New York state.