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The New York State Police (NYSP) announced the results of their St. Patrick's Day enforcement initiative, which ran from Friday (March 14) through Monday (March 17). During this period, troopers issued 11,582 tickets statewide and arrested 239 individuals for driving while intoxicated (DWI). The campaign, funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, included sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and efforts to curb underage drinking.
In the Capital Region alone, 962 tickets were issued, with 31 DWI arrests. Statewide, troopers also targeted speeding and distracted driving, issuing 3,680 tickets for speeding and 337 for distracted driving. The enforcement initiative also resulted in the investigation of 563 crashes, none of which were fatal.
Compared to last year's campaign, which was shorter by one day, there was an increase in both tickets and arrests. In 2024, the NYSP issued 8,662 tickets and made 217 DWI arrests. According to NYSP, the Thruway unit reported the highest number of tickets, with 1,901 issued.
The initiative aimed to enhance road safety during the holiday weekend by addressing various traffic violations and promoting responsible driving behavior. The NYSP plans to continue similar enforcement efforts in the future to maintain public safety on New York's roads.