Law enforcement targets impaired, reckless driving for Thanksgiving journey season

NEW YORK STATE (WRGB) — Governor Kathy Hochul introduced Saturday that the New York State Police and native regulation enforcement companies all through the state will enhance patrols to focus on impaired and reckless driving through the Thanksgiving journey season.

Funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), the particular enforcement periodruns from Saturday, November 22 by means of Sunday, November 30 and in addition will tackle different unsafe driving behaviors, together with violations of the state’s Move Over Law.

“Thanksgiving is the beginning of the busy holiday season with thousands of people traveling to gather and celebrate with friends and family,” Governor Hochul mentioned.“Those celebrations should not be marred by tragedy caused by impaired or reckless driving on our roadways. I urge drivers to stay alert, stay sober and move over when you see vehicles stopped on the side of the road. I thank our troopers and local law enforcement for spending time away from their loved ones to work on Thanksgiving and throughout the holidays to help keep New York’s roadways safe.”

In addition to elevated site visitors quantity through the Thanksgiving vacation interval, it is also a time of the yr related to elevated alcohol use. During the 2024 Thanksgiving vacation interval, regulation enforcement officers arrested 1,705 drivers for driving whereas impaired or intoxicated, and issued 10,078 dashing tickets, and 1,702 tickets for distracted driving.

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder mentioned,“We want everyone to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their friends and families this year and for years to come. Impaired driving can change the very fabric of a family and alter holiday memories forever. Nobody wants to live with the consequences of poor decisions that could have been easily avoided.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James mentioned, “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 Thanksgiving holiday, driver safety is absolutely imperative. The New York State Police proudly joins our law enforcement partners in the continued effort to discourage, detect, and apprehend impaired and drunk drivers.”

MORE: Local sufferer of drunk driving speaks out after two deadly crashes over the weekend

The State Police will complement common patrols statewide by means of efforts together with mounted sobriety checkpoints and using Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol autos to higher spot distracted drivers and people speaking or texting on handheld gadgets. These unmarked autos mix in with on a regular basis site visitors however are unmistakable as emergency autos as soon as the emergency lighting is activated.

To assist ease journey through the busy vacation season, lane closures for highway and bridge building tasks on New York State highways can be suspended starting 6 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26 by means of 6 a.m. on Monday, December 1.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that their“Have a Plan” cell app, is on the market for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones. The app allows New Yorkers to find and name a taxi or rideshare service and program a delegated driver checklist. It additionally supplies data on DWI legal guidelines and penalties and supplies a approach to report a suspected impaired driver.