State Police to crack down on drunken driving during holiday

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. >> The New York State Police said that they are conducting a Thanksgiving holiday traffic enforcement period which runs through Sunday, Nov. 25, in an effort to stop tragedies caused by impaired, distracted, aggressive or reckless driving.

Troopers said they will be highly visible and setting up sobriety checkpoints and additional DWI patrols.

“During this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I encourage all New Yorkers to drive safely, take your time and designate a sober driver. As we drive throughout the state to see our family and friends this holiday season, we need to focus on safe travel. Our troopers will be out handling the problems that this travel period brings, and their efforts will be focused on enforcing highway safety and preventing tragedies from occurring,” Superintendent George P. Beach II said in a news release.

The State Police said they will supplement regular patrols statewide, including fixed sobriety checkpoints, an underage drinker enforcement and the “Operation Hang Up” initiative, which targets distracted drivers by utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on handheld devices.

Police said that the unmarked vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

During the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday period, troopers said they arrested 242 drivers for DWI, issued 5,797 speeding tickets, 663 tickets for distracted driving, and 234 tickets for the move over law. A total of 15,360 tickets were issued statewide.

“As New Yorkers hit the road to visit family and friends, it’s important to avoid risky driving behaviors that put you and others on the road in danger. I commend the New York State Police and local law enforcement for their ef-

forts in keeping the roadways safe during this busy holiday time,” DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said in the release.

State Police and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee also recommend the following tips to prevent drunken driving:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins;

• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;

• If you’re impaired, use a taxi or ride-sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;

• Use your community’s sober ride program;

• The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.

• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement;

• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.