Police Issue 100K+ Tickets Over Holiday Enforcement Period

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Law enforcement was out and about patrolling New York’s roadways during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season.

More than 100,000 tickets were issued across the state, with more than 37,000 given out by the New York State Police. More than 500 tickets were for driving while intoxicated.

The state police and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee announced that 106,509 tickets were issued statewide, as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic enforcement period from Dec. 13 through Jan. 1.

The initiative targeted impaired and reckless drivers.

State troopers also targeted speeding and aggressive drivers, with 12,453 issued for speeding, 1,050 for distracted driving and 1,128 for seatbelt violations.

In the upper Hudson Valley, which is covered by Troop F, 1,780 tickets were issued. Along with other violations, they were for:

• Speed: 497
• DWI arrests: 43
• Distracted driving: 43
• Child restraint/seat belt: 84
• Move over: 15

In the lower Hudson Valley, which is covered by Troop K, 5,037 were given out. Along with other violations, they were for:

• Speed: 2,146
• DWI arrests: 103
• Distracted driving: 112
• Child restraint/seat belt: 97
• Move over: 68

On the Thruway, 5,544 tickets were issued, with more than 4,400 for speeding and more than 180 for distracted driving.

Throughout the enforcement, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and ticketed distracted drivers who used handheld electronic devices. Troopers also used both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who were violating the law. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.