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State Police, Local and County Law Enforcement to
Crack Down on Impaired and Reckless Driving This Memorial Day Weekend
Published: May 24, 2025 at
10:00 a.m.
By: Press Release
from New York State Police
State Police, Local and County Law Enforcement to
Crack Down on Impaired and Reckless Driving This Memorial Day Weekend
The New York
State Police, in coordination with local and county law enforcement, will
increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired, and reckless driving throughout
Memorial Day weekend. The special enforcement period begins Friday, May 23,
2025, and continues through Monday, May 26, 2025. These extra patrols are
funded through grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC).
Memorial Day
marks one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Police will be out in
force to remove impaired and reckless drivers from New York’s roadways and
ensure safe travel for all.
New York State
Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “For many New
Yorkers, Memorial Day marks the start of the summer travel season, which
means additional traffic and increased risks on our roadways. As we take
time to honor those who died in service to our country, we encourage all
motorists to make safety their number one priority. Drive sober, put down
your smartphone, and slow down and move over if you see emergency vehicles
or highway workers on the side of the road. Troopers will remain vigilant
in keeping the roadways safe throughout the holiday weekend.”
Drivers can
expect to encounter sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols by State
Police and local law enforcement. Troopers will use both marked vehicles
and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles to identify
motorists who are violating the law. CITE vehicles blend in with everyday
traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once their lights are
activated, allowing Troopers to more effectively observe violations.
According to the
Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) at the
University at Albany, 236 people were killed and 3,453 were injured in
alcohol-related crashes in 2023.
During Memorial
Day weekend in 2024, Troopers arrested 225 people for impaired driving,
issued 10,949 tickets, and investigated 239 crashes. No fatalities were
reported.
This initiative
is partially funded by the GTSC. The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI
Foundation remind motorists that the “Have a Plan” mobile app is
available for Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones. The app enables New
Yorkers to locate and call a taxi, program a list of designated drivers,
access information on DWI laws and penalties, and even report a suspected
impaired driver.
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