It’s a New Year and most of us are glad that 2012 is in the rear view mirror and are looking ahead to a fresh start in 2013. Unfortunately for many New Yorkers the New Year has already started out on a sour note because over the holidays thousands of drivers were issued traffic tickets or arrested for a DWI and have to begin the year dealing with fines, points, court dates and insurance hikes.
With the holidays being a time where many more people are on the roads travelling, the NYPD sends many more officers on the streets to make sure that the roads are safe. Beginning on December 14th of 2012 and ending on New Year’s Day 2013 police officers throughout the state began their annual campaign to target drivers for traffic violations and other offenses.
In less than twenty days New York State Police issued over 33,000 tickets and made over 500 Driving While Intoxicated arrests. The majority of the tickets issued included speeding tickets, seat belt violations, cell phone use and not properly restraining children with a seat belt or child appropriate car seat.
In conjunction with the national effort to crack down on drunk driving through the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, New York put into effect close to 30 sobriety checkpoints placed strategically throughout the state. New York also made sure to enhance police detail in areas that have a high incidence of drunk driving. Police officers also canvassed hundreds of bars and restaurants making arrests for underage drinking and arresting those serving alcohol to minors.
