Thursday, October 1, 2026
More than 31,000 impaired driving arrests were made across the state in 2024, highlighting the continued prevalence of drunk driving, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. The ITSMR also found that of the over 3,400 crashes involving an impaired driver in New York State, 15 percent occurred on Long Island.
In Atlantic Beach, that risk became clear last December when a driver leaving a nearby holiday party collided with a car carrying a family of three. The driver, a 30-year-old Brentwood man, had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08 percent and Delta-9-THC in his blood, according to Nassau County prosecutors. The crash forced an 11-year-old boy and his mother to be airlifted to Cohen Children’s Hospital. The father sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Accident reports and impaired driving arrests often fall on the desk of John Rofrano, a police officer at Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct. He addressed concerned residents at the village meeting on March 9, saying that the fight against drunk and impaired driving is an uphill one felt countywide.
“DWIs are happening at all hours of the day,” Rofrano said. “The police department is constantly trying to figure out the best solution.”
For drunk drivers who choose to get behind the wheel, their actions before their arrest or accident are scrutinized. Investigators examine where drivers were coming from, including whether they had been served at a bar or restaurant.
“Restaurants and bars that overserve are getting their end of violations,” Rofrano said. “The state comes in, the Town of Hempstead comes in. They will do their checks and issue violations.”
Residents questioned Rofrano about marijuana intervention and the steps taken when suspected drivers are pulled over. Rofrano explained that officers must prove a driver was operating erratically or exhibiting clear signs of impairment, as the smell of marijuana alone is not enough to justify an to arrest. They then must be taken to the Central Testing Section at the county headquarters in Mineola for a blood test, which Rofrano said most people deny.
“It makes the charges difficult to stick,” Rofrano said of marijuana-related incidents. “We have an uphill battle with that.”
In response, many police officers have been taking cannabis recognition courses offered by the United States Department of Justice, including Rofrano. “They’ve given us all the tools,” he said. “We are out there trying to find it.”
Another question posed by residents was whether their neighbors in Long Beach were doing enough to dissuade drunk driving. While Long Beach has its own police department, Rofrano said officers there do a good job preventing patrons from leaving bars while impaired and that their work benefits the safety of Atlantic Beach residents.
In a later interview with the Herald, Richard DePalma, commissioner of the Long Beach Police Department, said that there are many businesses from surrounding areas that serve alcohol. He noted that dozens of marinas, restaurants and beach clubs operate between Point Lookout and Far Rockaway, including Atlantic Beach.
“Impaired driving is an issue that goes far beyond Long Beach,” DePalma said. “To point the finger at Long Beach is disingenuous.”
To combat impaired driving, NCPD will increase its patrols leading into the summer months. The department will also add specialized checkpoints and decoy cars to deter impaired drivers. Rofrano reminded residents not to drive after drinking and encouraged them to call a friend, take a taxi or use a ride-share service instead.
