An annual Halloween traffic enforcement campaign conducted by New York State Police aimed to keep impaired drivers off the road.
From Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, state police utilized checkpoints and additional patrols to target speeding, distracted and impaired drivers over the party weekend.
"It is important to keep driving home the message that impaired driving is completely preventable and a mistake that can come with a whole host of consequences,” New York State department of motor vehicles commissioner, Mark Schroeder, said.
Both police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles, which blend in with everyday traffic, were used.
Throughout the initiative, police issued more than 11,601 tickets, including 4,129 tickets for speeding.
Additionally, 189 tickets were issued for impaired driving. Police also responded to 1,006 accidents, including three accidents that resulted in fatalities.
The NYC region saw the traffic enforcement initiative issue 550 tickets, the least of the state’s 11 regions.
Tickets issued in the NYC region include:
- 79 for speeding
- 21 for distracted driving
- 20 for seat belt violations
- Six "Driving While Intoxicated" arrests
The New York State Thruway saw the most tickets issued with 1,518. And, the Upper Hudson Valley registered the highest number of impaired drivers with 45 arrests.
The Halloween enforcement campaign was funded by Governor Kathy Hochul’s Traffic Safety Committee.
"I applaud our law enforcement partners for their commitment to keeping dangerous and impaired drivers off the roads this Halloween," Hochul said.
"Through enforcement campaigns like this, my administration will continue to crack down on impaired and reckless driving to prevent needless tragedies and make New York roads safer for all."