New York State Police will participate in the national enforcement initiative to crack down on impaired driving this holiday season. State Police is taking part in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs now through Monday, January 1st.
“Impaired driving is reckless, dangerous and illegal, and we have zero tolerance for it on New York’s roadways,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “We’re sending a clear message this holiday season that those in violation of our vehicle and traffic laws will be ticketed or face criminal charges.”
In addition to the DWI checkpoints and patrols, Troopers will be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and drivers violating the “Move Over Law,” which requires motorists to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles that are stopped in or on the side of the road. State Police will also conduct underage drinker enforcement details statewide.
The Have a Plan app can help. The free app from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the NYS STOP-DWI Foundation allows you to designate a driver, call a cab or ride share, and to review the consequences of impaired driving. You can even use the app to report a drunk or drugged driver. The app is available for Apple, Android, and Windows smart phones.
In an effort to ease travel during the busy holiday weekends, temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended beginning Friday, December 22 at 6 a.m. through Tuesday, December 26 at 6 a.m. Construction will also be suspended from Friday, December 29 at 6 a.m. through Tuesday, January 2 at 6 a.m. to ease travel for motorists.
During the enforcement campaign, Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow Troopers to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe distracted driving violations. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic, but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
During last year’s crackdown, as reported by the GTSC, law enforcement statewide issued 94,372 tickets. Of those tickets 18,222 were for speeding, 3,028 were for distracted driving, 2,684 were for seatbelts, 472 for the “Move Over Law” and 3,139 individuals were arrested for impaired driving. 66,827 motorists were ticketed for other infractions.
If you drive impaired and break the law, you will face consequences and be held accountable. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services data shows that felony and misdemeanor arrests for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs result in a conviction in approximately 90 percent of cases.
