Why NY Thruway Traffic Tickets Reached 13,000 In Six Weeks

People who drive along the New York State Thruway know how busy the highway is. The nearly 570-mile roadway carries thousands of cars and trucks every day from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes and everywhere in between in the Empire State.

As part of keeping this fast-paced roadway safe, the New York State Police has patrols all over the road making sure people are following traffic laws and driving safely. Sometimes they do that with patrol cars, other times they use drones and aircraft, and from time to time, officers take other methods to monitor traffic.

Over the last few weeks, troopers from the State Police have embedded themselves with construction crews all over the state to catch speeders, and the number of tickets they have issued is staggering.

As part of New York's massive investment in repairs and upgrades to the New York State Thruway in Western New York, they have also stepped up traffic enforcement on the road, and according to data released by state officials, more than 13,000 tickets have been issued over the last 6 weeks.

Construction season is in full swing in New York but far too many drivers continue to ignore work zone speed limits in areas where highway workers are performing critical work just feet away from moving traffic. Obey the law and do your part to ensure the men and women who maintain and improve our roads return home safely at the end of every day.
-Frank G. Hoare, Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority

Speeding in a work zone comes with increased penalties under changes the state made earlier this year to its driver points system.

KEEP READING: New Super Speeder Law Now In Effect In New York State

If you're driving through a construction zone in the Empire State, it's probably a good idea to slow down so you don't get hit with a massive ticket like the thousands of folks who have already been slapped with them.