As New Year’s Eve approaches, Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco joined regional law enforcement leaders at the 21st Annual Decide to Ride Press Conference to promote safe, responsible celebrations and to reinforce the message of zero tolerance for impaired driving.
The press conference was hosted by Dana Distributors at its facility in Goshen on Tuesday and drew strong participation from local police departments, NYS Police, Sheriff’s from Orange, Rockland and Sullivan counties, Orange County Emergency Management, and state officials representing Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Westchester, and Putnam counties.
Sheriff Falco addressed the importance of planning ahead before celebrating, reminding residents that impaired driving endangers lives and is entirely preventable. He encouraged the public to take advantage of safe transportation alternatives and to make responsible choices throughout the holiday.
Also in attendance was Dennis Salemo, Chief of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, who joined Sheriff Falco in showing Rockland County’s commitment to public safety and community education during one of the busiest travel nights of the year.
As part of the Decide to Ride initiative, organizers highlighted several options for those needing a ride home, including Alert Cab services and $15 Uber vouchers. The campaign also promoted non-alcoholic beverage alternatives such as Stella 0.0 and Michelob Ultra 0.0, allowing people to celebrate while avoiding the risks of alcohol consumption.
The annual Decide to Ride campaign continues to focus on education, enforcement, and access to safe transportation, with Rockland County law enforcement playing a prominent role in spreading the lifesaving message. Officials concluded by wishing the community a safe and happy New Year and urging everyone to make smart choices on the road.