Suffolk Police To Increase Patrols On Land, In Water For Labor Day Weekend

YAPHANK, NY — There will be increased enforcement efforts — more patrols both on land and in the water — to keep residents safe during Labor Day weekend, officials said Thursday.

The department will be increasing patrols to target drivers operating a motor vehicle or vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and officers will also be enforcing traffic laws through high-visibility patrols with a focus on aggressive and distracted drivers, to help keep motorists safe, according to officials.

Sobriety checkpoints will also be held and patrol officers will be performing directed patrols in areas of high foot traffic, such as strip malls and shopping centers, to deter criminal activity and enhance public safety, officials said.

Commissioner Rodney Harrison is encouraging residents and visitors countywide to enjoy the holiday weekend, but to "do so responsibly.”

“While the SCPD will be doing its part to hold people accountable for drinking and driving, success comes from the vital partnership between law enforcement and members of the community to keep Suffolk’s roadways and waterways a safe place,” he said.

County Executive Steve Bellone said he wants it to be a weekend of fun and not "to turn into a tragic one.”

“If you plan to drink during the upcoming holiday weekend, use common sense and plan a way home because if you get behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking, you will be caught and you will be held accountable," he said.

To report a crime anonymously in Suffolk, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline.

STATEWIDE

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced state police will be out in force through Labor Day weekend with a focus on similar issues, starting on Friday and running through Monday.

“Labor Day Weekend is a time where individuals are traveling throughout the state, traffic on the roadways are heavier than usual, and accidents can occur,” she said. “We want everyone to have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend without accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities getting in the way. Please be sure to not drink and drive, and keep your eyes on the road.”

State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, “Traffic safety is a top priority, and each day troopers work to ensure the well-being of all those who utilize New York’s roadways. Our goal during this enforcement is to ensure we can take intoxicated and drug-impaired drivers off our roadways before they injure or kill others."

"Our Troopers will remain vigilant to remove reckless drivers from our roads and hold them accountable for their actions. I thank the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for their support in conducting pivotal traffic enforcements such as this," he said.

Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles as part of this crackdown to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law, Hochul's office said.

CITE vehicles allow troopers to better observe driving violations, and the vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated, according to officials.

The initiative is partially funded by the governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

The committee and the state's STOP-DWI Foundation is reminding motorists that their “Have a Plan” mobile app is available for Apple, Droid, and Windows smartphones. The app enables residents to find and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list.

It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.

On Labor Day weekend in 2022, troopers arrested 191 people for DWI, issued 9,580 total tickets, and investigated 140 crashes, which resulted in three fatalities.