New York State Police Increasing Drunk Driving Enforcement This Weekend

The New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies across the state will increase patrols over the Memorial Day weekend to target drunk, impaired and reckless driving.

The special enforcement campaign begins Friday, May 22, and continues through Monday, May 25. Additional patrols are funded through grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

Authorities said Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year, and officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and stepped-up patrols to remove impaired and reckless drivers from the roads.

State Police said troopers will use both marked patrol vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement, or CITE, vehicles during the crackdown. The vehicles blend in with regular traffic but are equipped with emergency lights and can be identified as law enforcement vehicles once activated. Officials said the vehicles allow troopers to better observe traffic violations.

During the 2025 Memorial Day enforcement period, State Police arrested 245 people for driving while impaired, issued 12,062 tickets and investigated 774 crashes, including three fatal crashes.

The initiative is partially funded by the GTSC. The committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation are also reminding motorists that the “Have a Plan” mobile app is available for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones.

The app allows users to locate and call taxi services, create a designated driver list, review DWI laws and penalties, and report suspected impaired drivers.