Corona, Queens Leads City in Drunk Driving Arrests

According to NYPD statistics, Corona wins as drunkest neighborhood in New York, with 257 drunk driving arrests in the 115th Precinct so far this year. Elmhurst's 110th Precinct came in second place, with 167 arrests. Both neighborhoods are seriously under served by mass transit and yellow cabs, making DWIs all the more likely.

Over 100 "impact" cops have been assigned to the area, and since street crime is low they can focus their efforts on drunk drivers. One police spokesman told the Post, "Impact cops on foot posts are making . . . arrests. They'll see a guy at a traffic light nodding off, walk over, smell he's been drinking and make an arrest." Neighborhood mainline Roosevelt Avenue has about 80 bars, and one local beauty shop owner said, "The reason why you have a lot of drunk driving around here is because you have a lot of bars."

Neighborhoods like the West Village and the Lower East Side had some of the lowest DWI arrest numbers, but saw the highest increases. (Though who brings a car to the LES on a Saturday night?) Overall, DWI arrests are up 93.4% since 2001. A police spokesman said, "It's being given more attention."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on June 14, 2010 4:06 PM

Comments [rss]

tnuc

jaya,

i think your should have been a little more anti-cop in the piece. arresting people for dwi is cops just being racist or something right?

there is plenty of public transportation in this area you retard. have you ever been to Roosevelt ave. for your info there is an elevated subway line and numerous buses on Roosevelt ave.

good day jaya

ps i hope you get fired soon

jpeditor

More ignorant propaganda from the ultra-left, open- borders Gothamists.

"Both neighborhoods are seriously under served by mass transit and yellow cabs, over satuated with illegal aliens, making DWIs all the more likely"

Drunk Driving Illegal Aliens

BONUS!

At the same time, investigators, neighbors, and experts are concerned that some neighborhoods like Corona are starting to look like East Los Angeles as a result of gang activity.

ANGRYGOD11

Corona is under-serviced by mass transit? WTF?

Aside from all the bus routes the 7 train rolls straight to Times Square and Grand Central.

Corlears Hook

Good to know they are stepping up enforcement on the LES. It makes me laugh when every weekday morning I see packs of NYPD Traffic Enforcement writing tickets for every incident of block the box on Delancey Street but I never see a single police officer around to bust the loads of drunk drivers weaving down my narrow street or stopping the fights going on outside my apartment Saturday morning at 4 am...

ocm123

NYPD Traffic Enforcement agents are not police officers and are not authorized to make arrests or moving car stops.

Corlears Hook

No kidding, thats why I made the distinction between NYPD Traffic Enforcement and Police Officers.

My point was the city puts out tons of officers to enforce block the box but when the streets are full of drunk drivers there isn't a single officer around. But then again I am not shocked since revenue rather than safety is the most important issue.

colonelcasey

Probably has something to do with all those shady bars and restaurants in the neighborhood that draw their curtains at night. Wonder what could be going on there...

AYCE

With a name as Corona, what else would you expect?

Tower18

Neither precinct is THAT underserved by transit, by Queens standards.

They both likely get a huge boost from Mets attendees, as the 115th contains Westward routes from Citi Field, and the 110th includes Citi Field itself.