Holiday Stop-DWI Enforcement Continues Through Sunday

New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies are participating in the usual holiday traffic enforcement initiative to crack down on unsafe driving behaviors over the Thanksgiving holiday. It started Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

"I urge drivers to follow the law and make safety your top priority while out on the roads," said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Safety will be an even bigger priority Sunday if the predicted winter storm brings slow and sleet as expected. SEE: Hazardous Weather Outlooks Issued For Hudson Valley.

The NYSP is supplementing regular patrols statewide, including fixed sobriety checkpoints, underage drinking enforcement and the "Operation Hang Up" initiative, which targets distracted drivers by utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on hand held devices. These unmarked vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a time when alcohol consumption is widespread. During the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday period, troopers arrested 215 drivers for DWI, issued 5,834 speeding tickets, 774 tickets for distracted driving, and 218 tickets for move over law violations.