With prom season nearly upon us, Westchester County has kicked off its annual safe prom initiative, an educational and law enforcement program designed to deter teen drinking and keep party-goers safe.

The County's Office of Drug Prevention and Stop-DWI Office has already been focusing on educating parents, high schools, caterers and limousine companies about the law and the county's zero-tolerance policy on underage drinking. In the next few weeks,local police departments will kick off their enforcement detail in which limousines are physically checked at random to ensure underage kids are not drinking.

Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth says the program has been successful, "Each year less and less alcohol is being confiscated from young adults heading to their proms. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure that all of Westchester County's high school proms remain alcohol-free."

This year's effort is being managed by the Department of Public Safety as well as the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The Department of Community Mental Health also plays a role by participating in school forums around the County for teens and their parents.

The effort is financed in part by fines generated from DWI convictions.