A statewide effort to combat impaired and dangerous driving during the Thanksgiving holiday resulted in 50,466 tickets issued by law enforcement agencies, Governor Kathy Hochul’s Traffic Safety Committee announced. The total represents a 42% increase over the 2023 campaign, underscoring the continued prevalence of traffic violations during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.
Of the tickets issued, 1,705 were for impaired driving, surpassing the 1,342 arrests made during last year’s campaign. Law enforcement also handed out 10,078 speeding tickets and 1,702 for distracted driving, alongside citations for seatbelt violations and aggressive driving.
“The results of this effort are staggering,” said Governor Hochul. “Far too many people put their lives and the lives of others at risk through the poor choices that can easily be mitigated. I want to thank our law enforcement officers for their continued commitment to remove these drivers from our roadways and keep New Yorkers safe.”
The initiative, funded annually by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), included sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols statewide to deter, identify, and arrest impaired drivers.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James commended the officers involved. “The results of this campaign exemplify the commitment to detecting and apprehending impaired and reckless drivers. We urge drivers to do their part by making the right choices when they get behind the wheel.”
Distracted driving continues to pose a serious threat, with nearly as many tickets issued for this offense (1,702) as for impaired driving. Other violations, including speeding, seatbelt noncompliance, and failing to move over for emergency vehicles, accounted for tens of thousands of additional tickets.
The Thanksgiving campaign is part of a series of impaired driving enforcement efforts funded by the GTSC, with similar crackdowns planned for other high-risk holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day and Independence Day. These efforts aim to curb drug- and alcohol-related crashes, providing resources to law enforcement for DWI patrols and checkpoints.
The GTSC also emphasized the importance of responsible driving and offered support for those struggling with addiction. New Yorkers can find resources through the state’s 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or visit the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard for addiction treatment options.
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