NY STATE POLICE HQ
Press Release
The New York State Police issued a total of 47,711 tickets over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, as part of the “Drive High Get a DUI” national campaign. The initiative, which targeted impaired and reckless drivers, began on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, and ended Thursday, January 1, 2026.
State Police arrested 767 people for DWI and investigated 6,244 accidents, including 13 fatal accidents.
Throughout the enforcement, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and ticketed distracted drivers who used handheld electronic devices. Troopers also used both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who were violating the law. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
As part of the enforcement, troopers also targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. Below is a sampling of the total tickets that were issued.
Speeding 14,460
Distracted Driving 1,810
Seatbelt violations 1,600
Move Over Law 828
During last year’s National DWI Crackdown, the State Police issued 45,770 total tickets and arrested 755 people for DWI.
State Police remind motorists that holiday enforcement campaigns are conducted to save lives and prevent tragedies on New York’s roadways. Increased traffic, celebrations, and winter driving conditions during the holiday season significantly raise the risk of serious crashes. Drivers are urged to plan ahead, designate a sober driver, use seat belts and child restraints, obey speed limits, move over for emergency and roadside vehicles, and avoid distractions. A safe decision behind the wheel can prevent a life-altering crash and ensure everyone makes it home safely.
The results of the campaign broken down by Troop:
| Troop | Region | DWI Arrests(# of persons) | Speed | Distracted Driving | Child Restraint & Seat Belt | Move Over | TotalTickets(includes other violations) |
| A | Western NY | 42 | 1145 | 91 | 168 | 13 | 3917 |
| B | North Country | 30 | 783 | 33 | 113 | 99 | 3798 |
| C | Southern Tier | 49 | 1073 | 81 | 152 | 66 | 3579 |
| D | Central NY | 64 | 957 | 76 | 137 | 43 | 4408 |
| E | Finger Lakes | 48 | 1133 | 68 | 141 | 29 | 4515 |
| F | Western HV | 141 | 1563 | 244 | 193 | 75 | 4798 |
| G | Capital Region | 101 | 1281 | 174 | 90 | 77 | 4111 |
| K | Eastern HV | 113 | 2212 | 161 | 123 | 113 | 5333 |
| L | Long Island | 54 | 945 | 301 | 88 | 42 | 3379 |
| NYC | New York City | 23 | 301 | 84 | 56 | 6 | 2058 |
| T | NYS Thruway | 102 | 3067 | 497 | 339 | 265 | 7709 |
National DWI Crackdown Enforcement Initiative Data (December 10, 2025 – January 1, 2026)