New York State Police are cracking down on unsafe driving over the long weekend

NEW YORK (WRGB) – The New York State Police announced special traffic enforcement measures to combat speeding and impaired driving over the Columbus long weekend and Indigenous Peoples Day.

The enforcement period began Thursday and continues through Monday. This is the time when authorities said traffic volumes in the Empire State increased significantly due to fall tourism over the long weekend.

“During this campaign, State Police and our law enforcement partners will be highly visible and on the lookout for unsafe motorists,” said State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “By making safe decisions, injuries and deaths caused by speeding and drunk driving can be completely prevented. As always, we will have zero tolerance for those who endanger others through reckless driving.”

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Drivers must expect sobriety checks and additional DWI strips. Officers said they would also look for drivers using their phones or other electronic devices behind the wheel. Drivers should also remember to “move over” stopped emergency and hazardous vehicles – including civilian vehicles – that are parked on the side of the road.

As part of this enforcement effort, troopers said they would use both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles.

“CITE vehicles allow the trooper to better observe driving violations,” authorities said in a news release. “These vehicles fit into everyday traffic, but are unmistakably emergency vehicles when the emergency lighting is activated.”