Special 'Pumpkin Patrol' Will Help Keep NY Drivers Safe From Potentially Deadly Halloween Mischief

NEW YORK — Tricks and treats are part of the season, but certain pranks can lead to tragic consequences.

Troopers from State Police Troop T will coordinate the 49th Annual Pumpkin Patrol on Oct. 30 and 31, along New York State Thruway bridges and overpasses, to deter those dangerous Halloween pranks and ensure the safety of drivers.

This longstanding initiative is a collaboration between Troop T, whose members patrol the Thruway exclusively, and volunteers from local CB radio clubs and amateur radio organizations. The volunteers will monitor various overpasses, watching for suspicious or unsafe activity, and can quickly alert nearby state police patrols or local law enforcement to help prevent hazards to passing drivers posed by those who might not be thinking through the consequences of their actions.

Several hundred volunteers across more than a dozen counties, including those in the Hudson Valley, will participate this year.

The Pumpkin Patrol began as a volunteer effort in 1976. State police assumed control of the Pumpkin Patrol in 1990.

The initiative coincides with other state police enforcement activities during the Halloween weekend, including increased patrols targeting impaired, distracted and aggressive driving behaviors.