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The New York State Police Issued More Than 11,500 Tickets During the Campaign, Including More Than 4,000 Speeding Tickets

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the State Police issued 11,601 tickets and arrested 189 people for impaired driving during the special traffic enforcement detail over Halloween weekend. The initiative, which targeted speeding and impaired drivers, began on Friday, October 28, and continued through Tuesday, November 1. The enforcement campaign was funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. 

“I applaud the State Police and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to keeping dangerous and impaired drivers off the roads this Halloween,” Governor Hochul said. “Through enforcement campaigns like this, my administration will continue to crack down on impaired and reckless driving to prevent needless tragedies and make New York roads safer for all.”

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, “I applaud the tremendous work put forth by our members and law enforcements partners that have attributed to the success of this enforcement. We know all too well the preventable tragedies caused by impaired, reckless and distracted driving. We want to remind drivers to make responsible choices every time they get behind the wheel. Our Troopers will remain committed and vigilant in keeping impaired and reckless drivers off the roadways every day.” 

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark J. F. Schroeder said, “It is important to keep driving home the message that impaired driving is completely preventable and a mistake that can come with a whole host of consequences. That is why GTSC is pleased to be able to continue to support State Police and other county and local law enforcement during these special enforcement periods, and to make sure that people go from the roads to home safe and alive.”

During the campaign, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, added more DWI patrols and ticketed distracted drivers who used handheld electronic devices. Troopers also used both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement 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.

State Troopers arrested 189 people for impaired driving – up 42 percent from the previous year – and investigated 1,006 automobile crashes, including three fatal crashes and 109 personal injury crashes. During the 2021 Halloween weekend enforcement period, which ran one day less than this year’s campaign, the State Police issued 7,824 total tickets and arrested 133 people for DWI. 

As part of the enforcement, Troopers also targeted speeding, aggressive and distracted drivers across the State. Below is a sampling of the total tickets that were issued. 

Speeding	4,129
Distracted Driving	233
Seatbelt violations	406
Move Over Law	104

Below are the results of the campaign, broken down by Troop: 

Troop	Region	Speed	DWI Arrests (# of persons)	Distracted Driving	Child Restraint/ Seat Belt	Move Over	Total Tickets (includes other violations)
A	Western NY	368	18	13	38	2	1,063
B	North Country	242	4	3	18	6	784
C	Southern Tier	483	6	12	28	10	1,094
D	Central NY	375	16	40	52	9	1,226
E	Finger Lakes	376	11	19	67	11	1,186
F	Upper Hudson Valley	392	45	25	32	17	1,191
G	Capital Region	392	12	17	42	16	1,051
K	Lower Hudson Valley	518	28	21	37	14	1,134
L	Long Island	232	27	28	32	2	804
NYC	New York City	79	6	21	20	0	550
T	NYS Thruway	672	16	34	40	17	1,518

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Governor Kathy Hochul today signed an executive order to create the state’s first-ever Master Plan for Aging to ensure older New Yorkers can live healthy, fulfilling lives while aging with dignity and independence.

Signed on Older New Yorkers’ Day, the Executive Order directs the Commissioner of the State Department of Health and the Director of the State Office for the Aging to head a Master Plan for Aging Council, which will then gather input from relevant stakeholders to draft guidance for building healthy, livable communities that offer opportunities for older adults.     

“As the first age-friendly state in the nation, we continue to take important steps to empower and support older New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “This Master Plan for Aging will provide us with tools to ensure our aging New Yorkers have access to quality long term care in healthy, livable communities where they can thrive.”

Governor Hochul’s executive order is the first step toward building a comprehensive roadmap for meeting the socioeconomic needs of all generations of New Yorkers as they age.

Building on New York State’s status as the first state in the nation to officially receive AARP’s age-friendly designation, the Master Plan for Aging will help to coordinate existing and new state policy and programs for older adults and their families, while also addressing challenges related to communication, coordination, caregiving, long-term care financing, and innovative care models with the overarching aim of furthering the ability for more to age with dignity and independence.  

The executive order was signed in advance of the New York State Office for the Aging annual Older New Yorkers’ Day celebration, which honors volunteerism among older adults statewide. Starting at 1 p.m. today, this year’s virtual celebration will honor 94 older adults across the state for their unique contributions through civic organizations, charities, in schools or libraries, on behalf of health and human services organizations or other non-profits, and through acts of kindness.   

Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett or her designee will chair the Master Plan for Aging Council, Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen will serve as vice-chair, and relevant state agency commissioners and directors will serve as its membership. The council will then assemble a stakeholder committee, including members from health care and support service providers; consumers; informal caregivers; older adults – particularly those in communities experiencing disparities; health plan companies, labor and community-based organizations, employers, experts on aging, and academic researchers, among others.         

Earlier this year, the State Department of Health established the Office of Aging and Long-Term Care to develop policies and programs to meet the needs of older New Yorkers and people with disabilities who require long-term care services and support. Created in July, this new office is working closely with the Office of Health Insurance Programs, the Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management, and the state Office for the Aging to coordinate Department of Health activities related to aging New Yorkers.