New York State Police Crackdown on Unsafe Driving This Weekend

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! Have fun, and be safe. On that note, The New York State Police are participating in a special traffic enforcement initiative to crack down on unsafe driving behaviors during the holiday.

Traffic Enforcement In New York State Has Begun

The NYSP traffic enforcement runs Wednesday, November 22nd through Sunday, November 26th. State police will have sobriety checkpoints utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement patrol vehicles, along with their regular patrols.

Every year there are preventable tragedies and a wake of victims left behind because of the decisions made by reckless and impaired drivers. As we drive throughout the state to see our family and friends this holiday season, we need to make safe driving imperative. If you’re celebrating with alcohol, I encourage you to designate a sober driver and plan for a safe ride home. I thank the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for their support and collaboration on this pivotal enforcement. Our troopers remain committed to ensuring everyone’s safety and by motorists making the right choices, together we can prevent needless tragedies on our roadways. - Dominick L. Chiumento, New York State Police Acting Superintendent

Elevated Traffic Volumes Typically Occur During The Thanksgiving Weekend

According to the New York State Police, this holiday weekend is a time when alcohol consumption is widespread. Over the 2022 Thanksgiving weekend in New York State NYS Troopers arrested 213 drivers for DWI, issued 4,757 speeding tickets, and 425 tickets for distracted driving.

The New York State Police remind New Yorkers that "if you drive drunk or drugged, you not only put your life and the lives of others at risk, you could face arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drinking and driving arrest costs up to $10,000."

Safety Tips To Prevent Impaired Driving

Here are some safety tips to follow, from the New York State Police, GTSC, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to prevent impaired driving:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi or ride-sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation
• Use your community’s sober ride program
• If you suspect a driver is drunk or impaired on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely