State Police will step up enforcement on distracted and impaired driving this weekend
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced that State Police and local law enforcement across New York State will be increasing patrols to combat impaired and distracted driving this Memorial Day weekend from Friday to Monday.
“Ensuring the safety of motorists and passengers on New York roadways is top priority of this administration and driving under the influence or while distracted will simply will not be tolerated,” Cuomo said. “I urge all motorists to be safe this Memorial Day weekend and to exercise caution when getting behind the wheel.”
Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and more troopers on major highways during this holiday weekend. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law.
CITE vehicles allow Troopers to better observe driving violations. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
“As we remember the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation, we encourage all motorists to drive safely,” said State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico. “We are reminding motorists to buckle up, obey speed limits, and put down any electronic devices when behind the wheel.”
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people every year.
On Memorial Day weekend in 2014 State Troopers arrested more than 235 people for DWI and issued more than 12,000 tickets.
This targeted enforcement effort is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and STOP-DWI, a comprehensive and financially self-sustaining highway safety program that allows participating counties to qualify for the return of all fines collected for alcohol and other drug-related traffic offenses.
