Week-Long Initiative Focuses On Fatal Teenage Crashes: Police

LONG ISLAND, NY — State police are conducting a week-long safety initiative aimed at preventing fatal crashes involving teenagers.

The “No Empty Chair” campaign will runs through Friday, April 25, 2025, and focuses on raising awareness and enforcing laws to help keep young drivers safe.

Each year, communities across New York suffer the heartbreaking loss of high school students in traffic crashes just before graduation, state police said.

Daily Enforcement Focus:

• Monday: Speeding in school zones
• Tuesday,: Seat belt and child restraint violations
• Wednesday: Cell phone use and texting while driving
• Thursday: Operation Safe Stop (promoting school bus safety)
• Friday: Underage drinking and impaired driving

Troopers will be using both marked and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles. CITE vehicles blend into everyday traffic, making it easier for Troopers to identify violations such as texting while driving.

Traffic Violation Point Penalties (if convicted):
Speeding:

Speed not indicated: 3 points
1–10 MPH over limit: 3 points
11–20 MPH over limit: 4 points
21–30 MPH over limit: 6 points
31–40 MPH over limit: 8 points
Over 40 MPH: 11 points

Improper cell phone use: 5 points

No seat belt (under age 16): 3 pointsChild safety seat violations: 3 points