This year, NYS STOP-DWI is honoring these two individuals who have had an impact on advocacy and education related to traffic safety in their communities. Below is information about the two awards and how you can nominate someone you know who aligns with these principles.
The 2026 L. Richard “Dick” Novelli Award will be presented by STOP-DWI New York during the New York State Highway Safety Symposium in October in Lake Placid.
The Novelli Award was instituted to honor the memory of L. Richard “Dick” Novelli, who died of cancer in 1993 while serving as the STOP-DWI Coordinator and Traffic Safety Director for Niagara County. Because of Dick’s role as an educator, the award is given to programs that further STOP-DWI and/or Traffic Safety principles through community education.
Primary considerations are the program’s impact on the community, the originality of the design, the incorporation of either STOP-DWI or Traffic Safety principles, and the adaptability of the program to other communities. Consideration is also given as to whether the program could be used regionally or on a statewide basis. Some previous honorees include school assembly programs, victim panels designed for high school students, Veteran-specific traffic safety programs, and special events designed to promote STOP-DWI or Traffic safety programs where the designer or originator was a community member as opposed to an employee of a local program.
Nominations are due by August 1, 2026 and will be forwarded to the STOP-DWI New York Awards and Recognition Committee.
The 2026 William T. Smith Award will be presented by STOP-DWI New York during the New York State Highway Safety Symposium in October in Lake Placid.
In the summer of 1981, State Senator William T. Smith introduced the STOP-DWI legislation considered during the 1981–1982 regular session of the New York State Legislature. This legislation was the result of years of advocacy by Senator Smith following the death of his daughter by an impaired driver in 1973. The STOP-DWI Law was enacted in 1981, and county programs were first implemented in 1982.
The William T. Smith Award was developed to honor Senator Smith for his dedication to the cause of the NYS STOP-DWI Coordinator’s Association. This award is a STOP-DWI Coordinator’s Association Award, not an award for recognition of local accomplishments. The guidelines to be included for consideration are that the person be a member of the Association in good standing; or be directly involved in the daily operation of any county program; or be a consultant directly involved in the overall operation of the State Association business. The person selected will have provided the State Association with time and effort, considered to enhance the cause of the Association in its daily and yearly business.
Nominations are due by August 1, 2026 and will be forwarded to the STOP-DWI New York Awards and Recognition Committee.
New York’s STOP-DWI program is the Nations’ first and, to date, only self-sustaining impaired driving program. Other States have implemented components of self-sufficiency, but none to the degree of New York State.
