Seaford, NY - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, joined by Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) and Police Commissioner James Lawrence, today announced new statistics showing a complete turnaround of the County's beleaguered DWI Seizure Program. The statistics show that this year nearly $1,000,000 has already been grossed from the disposal of over 800 cars.

(L to R): County Executive Suozzi and County Legislator Joseph Scannell address reporter at Tuesdays press Conference at Cedar Creek Park.

"The management of this program had been a disgrace," said County Executive Suozzi. "The County was losing money and we were giving cars back to drunk drivers. This administration does not make laws and forget about them, nor will we abandon good laws that have been forgotten"

The seizure program seizes, auctions and disposes of vehicles from individuals arrested for driving while intoxicated. From January to October of this year the program has grossed $903,000 from the disposal of 868 cars seized during drunk driving arrests. This is a dramatic increase from the numbers produced by the program over the three-year period from 1999 to 2001, which grossed an average of $58,000 a year. Of the 1626 cars seized during that period, only 200 were sold.

A lack of oversight in the program produced a backlog of legal paperwork and vehicles were left rusting in private lots. In January of 2002 there were over 500 DWI seizure vehicles sitting in private impound yards costing in excess of $1,000 per day. Today there are only 50 vehicles in private lots, costing $100 per day in total. The remainder of the vehicles are being held on County property at no cost.

"The numbers don't lie," said Legislator Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) "Fatalities related to DWI have dropped and the County has brought in almost $1 million from impounded vehicles, making this program a tremendous success in a short amount of time."

"People should understand, that there is a zero tolerance policy in Nassau County. Those that choose to endanger the lives of others will pay for their mistakes with their vehicles," said Suozzi.

"The Nassau County Police Department is always seeking solutions to make our roadways safe for motorists and their passengers," added Commissioner Lawrence. "This program is and example of the types of initiatives we are developing to deter those individuals who operate a vehicle while intoxicated."