State troopers issued thousands of tickets and made dozens of drunken driving arrests across the Finger Lakes and Central New York during a statewide holiday enforcement push.
The New York State Police wrote more than 47,700 tickets statewide during the Christmas and New Year’s DWI crackdown, which ran from Dec. 10 through Jan. 1. Troopers arrested 767 people for driving while intoxicated and investigated more than 6,200 crashes, including 13 fatal accidents.
In Central New York, troopers arrested 64 people for DWI and issued 4,408 tickets overall. Those citations included 957 for speeding, 76 for distracted driving, 137 seatbelt and child restraint violations, and 43 Move Over Law violations.
In the Finger Lakes region, troopers arrested 48 people for DWI and issued 4,515 total tickets. Enforcement there included 1,133 speeding tickets, 68 distracted driving citations, 141 seatbelt violations, and 29 Move Over Law violations.
State Police say troopers used sobriety checkpoints, extra DWI patrols, and both marked and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles during the crackdown. Those unmarked vehicles blend in with regular traffic but activate emergency lighting when a stop is made.
Troopers also focused on aggressive driving, speeding, and distracted driving, which officials say remain major factors in serious and fatal crashes, especially during winter travel and holiday celebrations.
State Police said the goal of the annual crackdown is to save lives and prevent tragedies during a period when traffic volumes increase and road conditions can quickly turn dangerous. They urged drivers to plan ahead, use a sober driver, wear seat belts, obey speed limits, move over for emergency vehicles, and avoid using handheld devices behind the wheel.
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