State Police Issue Thousands of Tickets in Capital Region Over the Holidays

Hopefully, You Weren't One of Them

The New York State Police had a busy and intense holiday season on the roads, issuing nearly 48,000 tickets during their “Drive High, Get a DUI” enforcement campaign, which ran from December 10th through January 1st.

The statewide crackdown targeted impaired, distracted, and aggressive drivers during one of the most dangerous travel periods of the year.

Police Had Eyes Everywhere

Using sobriety checkpoints, extra patrols, and unmarked Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles to catch dangerous behavior, New York troopers made 767 DWI arrests and investigated more than 6,200 crashes, including 13 fatal accidents.

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In addition to drunk driving, police focused heavily on speeding, distracted driving, seatbelt use, and Move Over Law violations.

Here in the Capital Region...

Here in the Capital Region, troopers were kept very busy.

Troop G, which covers Albany, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and surrounding counties, recorded 101 DWI arrests during the holiday period. Troopers also issued 1,281 speeding tickets, 174 distracted-driving citations, and 77 Move Over Law violations, totaling 4,111 tickets across the region.

The New York State Thruway also saw heavy enforcement, with 102 DWI arrests and more than 7,700 tickets issued during the high-traffic holiday period.

State Police say these enforcement efforts are designed to prevent tragedies, especially during the holidays, when increased traffic, winter weather, and celebrations increase the risk of serious crashes. Drivers are urged to plan ahead, designate a sober driver, wear seat belts, avoid distractions, and slow down. One safe decision behind the wheel can mean the difference between arriving home and a life-altering accident.