NewsLocal News

Actions

New York State Police stepping up patrols this holiday weekend

Posted at 12:49 PM, May 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-21 13:00:32-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — New York State Police have this message for drivers as we head into the holiday weekend, "think before you drink."

State Police will be increasing patrols to combat drunk, impaired and reckless driving throughout this Memorial Day weekend. The STOP-DWI enforcement period starts on Friday, May 22, and runs through Tuesday, May 26. State Police and local law enforcement will be out in force looking for impaired and reckless drivers.

“As we take time this Memorial Day to honor those who died in service to our county, we remind motorists to make safety the top priority", said State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett. "If your holiday plans include alcohol, please arrange for a safe ride home. Driving impaired is a choice that often has serious and even deadly consequences. State Troopers will be highly visible this weekend, and will have zero tolerance for impaired, reckless and distracted drivers.”

Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols during this holiday weekend. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown.

According to a release issued on Thursday, during Memorial Day weekend in 2019, Troopers arrested 225 people for drinking and driving, issued 13,693 total tickets, and investigated 134 personal injury crashes, which resulted in four fatalities.