Law enforcement agencies across New York issued more than 68,000 tickets during a statewide traffic safety crackdown tied to St. Patrick\u2019s Day, according to the Governor\u2019s Traffic Safety Committee. The enforcement campaign ran from Monday, March 9 through Tuesday, March 17 and targeted impaired driving, speeding, and aggressive driving.<\/p>\n
Of the 68,078 tickets handed out, roughly 1,694 were for impaired driving offenses, such as driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. The rest were for various vehicle and traffic violations. As reported by NEWS10<\/a>, this year\u2019s total marks a 22% increase from last year\u2019s enforcement period, when officers issued 55,661 tickets.<\/p>\n During the week-long effort, state and local police ramped up patrols and set up sobriety checkpoints to catch drivers breaking the law. The initiative is part of several campaigns funded by the Governor\u2019s Traffic Safety Committee throughout the year, which also include enforcement periods around Halloween, Christmas, New Year\u2019s Eve, and summer holidays, as noted by CNY Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, “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.” He added, “Our members remain focused on removing dangerous drivers from the road, using targeted patrols and sobriety checkpoints to prevent tragedies before they happen,” according to NEWS10<\/a>.<\/p>\n