The New York State Police issued 47,711 traffic tickets statewide during the December–New Year holiday enforcement period, as part of the national “Drive High, Get a DUI” campaign.
The multi-week initiative, aimed at curbing impaired, distracted, and reckless driving during the busy winter travel season, ran from Wednesday, December 10, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026.
During the enforcement period, State Police arrested 767 motorists for DWI and investigated 6,244 crashes, including 13 fatal accidents. Troopers conducted sobriety checkpoints, deployed additional DWI patrols, and focused heavily on distracted driving, including the use of handheld electronic devices.
Both marked patrol vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles were utilized throughout the operation. These unmarked vehicles blend into everyday traffic but are clearly identifiable as emergency vehicles once their lights are activated, allowing troopers to better detect dangerous driving behavior.
In addition to impaired driving, enforcement efforts targeted speeding, seatbelt compliance, aggressive driving, and violations of the state’s Move Over Law. A breakdown of select violations issued during the campaign includes:
- Speeding: 14,460
- Distracted Driving: 1,810
- Seatbelt Violations: 1,600
- Move Over Law Violations: 828
For comparison, during last year’s national DWI crackdown, State Police issued 45,770 tickets and made 755 DWI arrests, reflecting an increase in overall enforcement activity this year.
State Police officials emphasized that holiday-season enforcement campaigns are conducted to save lives and prevent tragedies, noting that increased travel, winter weather, and seasonal celebrations significantly raise the risk of serious crashes. Motorists are urged to plan ahead, designate a sober driver, wear seatbelts and ensure proper child restraints, obey speed limits, move over for emergency and roadside vehicles, and avoid distractions behind the wheel.
Enforcement Results by Troop (December 10, 2025 – January 1, 2026)
| Troop | Region | DWI Arrests | Speeding | Distracted Driving | Child Restraint & Seat Belt | Move Over | Total Tickets* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Western NY | 42 | 1,145 | 91 | 168 | 13 | 3,917 |
| B | North Country | 30 | 783 | 33 | 113 | 99 | 3,798 |
| C | Southern Tier | 49 | 1,073 | 81 | 152 | 66 | 3,579 |
| D | Central NY | 64 | 957 | 76 | 137 | 43 | 4,408 |
| E | Finger Lakes | 48 | 1,133 | 68 | 141 | 29 | 4,515 |
| F | Western Hudson Valley | 141 | 1,563 | 244 | 193 | 75 | 4,798 |
| G | Capital Region | 101 | 1,281 | 174 | 90 | 77 | 4,111 |
| K | Eastern Hudson Valley | 113 | 2,212 | 161 | 123 | 113 | 5,333 |
| L | Long Island | 54 | 945 | 301 | 88 | 42 | 3,379 |
| NYC | New York City | 23 | 301 | 84 | 56 | 6 | 2,058 |
| T | NYS Thruway | 102 | 3,067 | 497 | 339 | 265 | 7,709 |
*Totals include additional violations not listed above.
State Police continue to remind drivers that one safe decision can prevent a life-altering crash, and that responsible driving during the winter holiday season helps ensure everyone makes it home safely.
