Hundreds On Long Island Ticketed Over Memorial Day Weekend

New York State Police issued thousands of tickets during a period of increased enforcement over the Memorial Day weekend, including hundreds to drivers on Long Island.

Police issued nearly 600 tickets to drivers, and arrested more than a dozen for DWI, over the period, which began on Friday, May 24 and went through Monday, May 27.

"Our message is simple: If you choose to drive after drinking or using drugs, you will be held accountable," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "We will not stand for the preventable tragedies that are caused by impaired and reckless drivers, and we will continue our aggressive enforcement to make the roads safe for all who use them."

During the 54-hour STOP-DWI campaign, which was partially funded by the governor's Traffic Safety Committee, state police increased patrols and conducted sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers.

Police reported the following enforcement for Long Island:

• DWI arrests: 16
• Speeding tickets: 176
• Distracted driving: 28
• Child restraint/seat belt: 41
• Move Over Law violations: 3
• Total tickets (including other violations): 591

"The results of this year's campaign show that far too many people are making the wrong decision, and getting behind the wheel while intoxicated or impaired by drugs," said Acting State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett. "We have no tolerance for this behavior, and our troopers will remain vigilant to remove these reckless individuals from our roadways."

Across the state, troopers arrested 225 people for DWI and investigated 134 personal injury crashes, which resulted in 190 people getting injured and four fatalities. They also issued 3,855 speeding tickets, 392 distracted driving tickets and 3,327 seat belt violations.