State Troopers Issue 30,000+ Tickets During Holiday Sober-Driving Campaign

Over the holidays, the New York State Police issued more than 30,000 tickets during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday the special traffic enforcement period from Friday, Dec. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 1, which also included local law enforcement agencies, was designed to significantly reduce deaths and injuries caused by drunk or impaired driving.

“Impaired driving is reckless, dangerous and illegal, and we have zero tolerance for it on New York’s roadways,” Cuomo said. “I applaud the State Police and local law enforcement for their continued commitment to holding impaired drivers accountable to make our streets and our communities safer.”

Of the 33,153 tickets issued, 11,319 were for speeding; 1,107 for distracted driving; 819 for seatbelt violations and 421 for the Move Over law.

State Troopers arrested 571 people for DWI and investigated 644 personal injury accidents, which resulted in 898 people injured.

Police said 15 people were killed in 14 separate fatal motor vehicle accidents over the course of the campaign.

The results of the campaign for the lower Hudson Valley-Troop K are as follows:

• DWI Arrests: 78
• Speed: 1,212
• Distracted Driving: 97
• Child Restraint/Seat Belt: 112
• Move Over: 37
• Total Tickets (including other violations): 3,374

Patch file photo.