New York State Intensifies Patrols for Memorial Day Weekend to Combat Impaired Driving
Albany, NY – New York State Police, in collaboration with local and county law enforcement agencies, will significantly increase patrols from Friday, May 23, 2025, through Monday, May 26, 2025. This special enforcement period aims to combat drunk, impaired, and reckless driving during one of the year’s busiest travel holidays. The heightened patrols are supported by grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC).
As Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the start of increased summer travel, law enforcement agencies are preparing for higher traffic volumes. The primary goal of this initiative is to ensure the safety of all motorists by removing dangerous drivers from New York’s roadways.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James emphasized the importance of road safety during this period. “For many New Yorkers, Memorial Day marks the start of the summer travel season, which means additional traffic and increased risks on our roadways,” he stated. “As we take time to honor those who died in service to our country, we encourage all motorists to make safety their number one priority. Drive sober, put down your smartphone, and slow down and move over if you see emergency vehicles or highway workers on the side of the road. Troopers will remain vigilant in keeping the roadways safe throughout the holiday weekend.”
Motorists should anticipate sobriety checkpoints and a greater presence of both State Police and local law enforcement. Officers will utilize marked patrol cars as well as Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles. These CITE vehicles are designed to blend with regular traffic, enabling officers to more effectively identify and apprehend individuals violating traffic laws. Once their emergency lights are activated, these vehicles are clearly identifiable.
Statistics highlight the persistent danger of impaired driving. According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) at the University at Albany, alcohol-related crashes resulted in 1,104 fatalities and 12,382 injuries in 2023. During the 2024 Memorial Day weekend enforcement, Troopers arrested 225 individuals for impaired driving, issued 10,949 tickets, and investigated 239 crashes, with no fatalities reported during that specific period.
This safety initiative is partially funded by the GTSC. Both the GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation also promote the “Have a Plan” mobile application. Available for Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones, the app assists New Yorkers in finding and calling a taxi, creating a list of designated drivers, understanding DWI laws and penalties, and even reporting suspected impaired drivers.
