State and local police will increase patrols through Thanksgiving weekend, an initiative funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday.

The special enforcement period runs through Sunday, Dec. 1 and will target unsafe driving behaviors like impaired and reckless driving. Law enforcement officials say they will mix regular patrols with sobriety checkpoints and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles.

“Thanksgiving kicks off the busiest travel season of the year, and we want everyone to reach their friends and loved ones safely,” Gov. Hochul said. “I thank our troopers and local law enforcement for working on Thanksgiving and throughout the holidays to help keep our roads safe. I urge drivers to stay alert, stay sober, and move over when you see vehicles stopped on the side of the road.”

“A common threat on our roads that we continually fight is impaired and drunk driving. Traffic enforcement is imperative to everyone’s well-being and the goal of making this holiday a safe one. The New York State Police proudly joins our law enforcement partners in the ongoing effort to discourage, detect and apprehend impaired and drunk drivers,” New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said.

During the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday period, 1,342 drivers were arrested for DWI, 7,656 speeding tickets and 970 tickets for distracted driving were issued across the state.