The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced law enforcement agencies throughout the state issued 46,212 tickets for various vehicle and traffic law violations, including 1,260 tickets for impaired driving, during a statewide mobilization targeting impaired drivers before and on Halloween. The enforcement period ran from October 25, 2024, through October 31, 2024.

“My priority, as Governor, has always been to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers, especially young children who are out enjoying Halloween,” Governor Hochul said. “I want to thank our law enforcement officers for their continued commitment to protecting our communities.”

Sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers were conducted throughout the campaign by State and local law enforcement officers. The statewide initiative is funded, annually, by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.

“Data shows the number of individuals driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol sharply increases around holiday celebrations,” said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder. “That is why it’s so important to conduct these targeted enforcement campaigns, so we can strengthen our ability to protect everyone on our roads. We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the holidays for years to come.”

As part of the enforcement, law enforcement officers also targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. Below is a breakdown of the total tickets that were issued.  

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The results of this effort show that far too many people put their lives and the lives of others at risk through the poor choices they make while driving. Troopers will continue to crack down on reckless and impaired drivers to keep our roads safe for all users. I thank our law enforcement partners for their shared support.”

During last year’s initiative, law enforcement officers issued 32,866 citations, 1,182 drivers were arrested for impaired driving, and 6,495 drivers were ticketed for speeding.

Delaware County Sheriff and President of the NYS Sheriffs’ Association Craig DuMond said, “Most drivers were courteous this year so folks could enjoy trick-or-treating during Halloween. Some drivers were dangerous by driving aggressively or impaired. Law enforcement ticketed many of these drivers in an effort to keep other road users and pedestrians safe. Regardless of the time of year, the Sheriffs of New York State ask all drivers to share the road safely with other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.”

The Halloween impaired driving enforcement campaign is one of the several coordinated initiatives sponsored by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) to reduce alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes. These targeted mobilizations provide resources to law enforcement statewide to target underage drinking and increase DWI patrols and sobriety check points during the campaign period. Other impaired driving campaigns occur around St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and other periods of time from August to September and December to January.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

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