As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, State Police issued more than 15,000 tickets while enforcing Operation Hang Up, a traffic enforcement period which targets those who use phones while driving.
Operation Hang Up ran from April 6 through April 10 and resulted in 15,104 tickets, including 2,005 for distracted driving. Other tickets included 4,487 for speeding, 148 for move over law and 596 for seat belt violations. Troopers also arrested 206 people for DWI. Investigations were also conducted for 129 personal injury crashes, which resulting in one fatality and 171 people injured.
Both marked and concealed police vehicles were used during the crackdown.
"Distracted driving too often leads to avoidable tragedies, which is why this administration has zero tolerance for this illegal and dangerous behavior," Governor Cuomo said. "I commend State Police and local law enforcement for their continued vigilance against reckless driving and tireless work to keep our roadways and highways across New York safe."
In Western New York alone, 144 tickets were issued for distracted driving, 472 for speeding and 17 DWI arrests were made. Police also gave out 86 tickets for child restraint and seat belt violations and three for move over law. In total, 1,336 were issued in Western New York.
