New York State Police Arrested 213 People For Impaired Driving

Police in New York were busy cracking down on impaired drivers around the state. Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Police gave out 14,063 tickets during the 2022 Thanksgiving traffic enforcement initiative. Police were targeting unsafe driving behaviors during the holiday weekend.

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State Troopers arrested 213 people for driving while impaired during the enforcement period. They investigated 927 accidents. Three of the crashes had fatalities. The special traffic enforcement period ran from Wednesday, November 23, through Sunday, November 27, 2022.

Governor Hochul said,

Drinking before getting behind the wheel, speeding and distracted driving are all poor choices that can have life altering consequences. I want to commend the efforts of law enforcement members who worked through the holiday period to crack down on impaired and reckless driving. Their hard work is contributing to keeping New York's roadways amongst the safest in the nation.

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The increased patrols used fixed sobriety checkpoints, an underage drinker initiative, and the "Operation Hang Up" initiative. Police targeted drivers by using Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles, better known as undercover vehicles, to catch drivers texting on handheld devices.

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said,

I applaud our Troopers and their dedication to keeping our roadways safe for all New Yorkers throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The results of this campaign prove that too many people get behind the wheel while intoxicated or impaired by drugs. We will not tolerate this behavior, and the women and men of the State Police will remain vigilant to remove these reckless individuals from our roadways.

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Here's The Penalty For Getting Caught Driving While High In New York State

Before you decide to consume cannabis and then illegally drive under the influence in New York, you should know the real cost of your decision. Not only will you have to pay up in dollars, but you'll also pay with time, a hit to your license, and possibly injury or death.

The penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are pretty harsh in New York according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.