New York (WRGB) — New York law enforcement agencies issued 68,078 tickets statewide during a St. Patrick’s Day impaired driving enforcement mobilization that ran from March 9, 2026, through March 17, 2026, according to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
The ticket total included 1,694 citations for impaired driving. During the campaign, state and local officers used sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers. The statewide initiative was funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said,
These enforcement mobilizations are conducted at times of the year when there is a higher likelihood of individuals driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and they strengthen the ability of law enforcement to keep everyone on our roads safe during those periods. The objective is to make sure everyone gets home safely, and the results of these efforts clearly show why they are so important.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said,
These results reflect a strong, coordinated enforcement effort across New York and a clear message to anyone considering driving impaired, you will be stopped and held accountable. Our members remain focused on removing dangerous drivers from the road, using targeted patrols and sobriety checkpoints to prevent tragedies before they happen. Public safety is our priority, and these enforcement campaigns are a critical tool in protecting lives on our highways.
As part of the mobilization, officers also targeted speeding and aggressive driving. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee reported the following breakdown of tickets issued statewide:
Impaired driving: 1,694Distracted driving: 2,577Move Over law: 520Speeding: 11,907Seat belt: 1,528Other violations: 49,852Total: 68,078
The St. Patrick’s Day enforcement effort is one of several coordinated impaired driving initiatives sponsored by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to reduce alcohol- and drug-related traffic crashes.
During last year’s St. Patrick’s Day impaired driving enforcement operation, officers statewide arrested 1,224 people for DWI, issued 10,314 tickets for speeding and issued 55,661 tickets in total.
Juan Figueroa, Ulster County sheriff and president of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, said,
Hopefully everyone had a great St. Patrick’s Day. Most people didn’t rely on the luck of the Irish; they made their own luck by driving safe and sober. Some people didn’t by driving impaired or aggressively. Many of those dangerous drivers were ticketed by law enforcement in an effort to keep the roads safe for all of us. As we welcome the arrival of spring the Sheriffs of New York State ask you to please be courteous behind the wheel and have a plan to not drive impaired.
New York State Association of Chiefs of Police President and Mount Pleasant Police Department Chief Paul Oliva said,
The majority of motorists drove safely to and from the recent St Patrick’s Day celebrations and parades. However, there were those who still continued to make poor choices and operated their vehicles recklessly, and, in some cases, impaired. This resulted in many being ticketed or arrested during the most recent enforcement initiatives. Local law enforcement agencies will continue to monitor our highways throughout the 2026 calendar year to identify aggressive and impaired drivers and enforce the laws of New York State to keep our roadways safe for everyone.
New Yorkers struggling with addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can call the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY (short code 467369). Addiction treatment, including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care, is available through the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.