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New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to curb impaired driving this holiday season. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, runs through January 1. This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to enhance road safety during the holidays.
The campaign includes DWI checkpoints and increased patrols, with officers also watching for speeding, distracted driving, and violations of the "Move Over Law." This law requires drivers to exercise caution when passing stopped vehicles on the roadside. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the state's zero tolerance for impaired and reckless driving, stating, "If you place yourself or other drivers in danger this holiday season, you will be ticketed or face criminal charges" according to the Governor's office.
To ease travel during busy holiday weekends, temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction on state highways will be suspended from Saturday, December 21, through Thursday, December 26, and again from New Year's Eve through January 2. Despite these suspensions, some work may continue behind permanent barriers for emergency repairs.
The New York State Police will use both marked vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles to identify distracted drivers. These vehicles blend into traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles when lights are activated. Last year's campaign resulted in over 94,000 tickets statewide, including 18,222 for speeding and 3,139 arrests for impaired driving as reported by the State Police.
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the NYS STOP-DWI Foundation encourage drivers to use the "Have a Plan" app, which helps locate taxis or rideshare services and provides information on DWI laws. The app is available for Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones.