New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will increase patrols across the state to address impaired and reckless driving during the Thanksgiving travel period. The enforcement initiative, funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), will run from Saturday, November 22 through Sunday, November 30. Officers will also focus on other unsafe driving behaviors, including violations of the Move Over Law.
“Thanksgiving is the beginning of the busy holiday season with thousands of people traveling to gather and celebrate with friends and family,” Governor Hochul said. “Those celebrations should not be marred by tragedy caused by impaired or reckless driving on our roadways. I urge drivers to stay alert, stay sober and move over when you see vehicles stopped on the side of the road. I thank our troopers and local law enforcement for spending time away from their loved ones to work on Thanksgiving and throughout the holidays to help keep New York’s roadways safe.”
The period around Thanksgiving typically sees increased traffic as well as higher alcohol consumption. In 2024, law enforcement made 1,705 arrests for impaired or intoxicated driving during this time frame, issued over 10,000 speeding tickets, and cited more than 1,700 drivers for distracted driving.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “We want everyone to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their friends and families this year and for years to come. Impaired driving can change the very fabric of a family and alter holiday memories forever. Nobody wants to live with the consequences of poor decisions that could have been easily avoided.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James added: “Every year, there are preventable tragedies and a wake of victims left behind because of the decisions made by reckless and impaired drivers. As we drive throughout the state to see our family and friends this Thanksgiving holiday, driver safety is absolutely imperative. The New York State Police proudly joins our law enforcement partners in the continued effort to discourage, detect, and apprehend impaired and drunk drivers.”
State Police will use sobriety checkpoints as well as Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles—unmarked cars designed to spot distracted drivers using handheld devices.
A drinking-and-driving arrest can cost up to $10,000 in legal fees, fines, insurance increases, towing costs, repairs, license loss, and lost wages.
To ease congestion during peak travel days around Thanksgiving weekend—one of New York’s busiest times for motorists—the state will suspend lane closures related to construction projects on highways from Wednesday morning until Monday morning following Thanksgiving each year.
This suspension is part of New York’s Drivers First Initiative aimed at reducing traffic delays due to construction activities.
Motorists are reminded that under an expanded Move Over Law effective since March 2024 they must slow down or move over for any vehicle stopped along a roadway—not just emergency or maintenance vehicles.
Text stops—including rest areas—are available along highways so drivers can avoid distractions while traveling.
All service areas along the New York State Thruway are open ahead of Thanksgiving travel; travelers can plan stops via resources such as the Thruway Authority’s website or its free mobile app which provides real-time navigation assistance.
For updated road conditions statewide—including access to more than two thousand traffic cameras—drivers may use NYSDOT’s 511NY service, available online or via mobile app.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said: “The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the most important times of the year for families across New York to gather with their loved ones, and we want to make sure everyone gets to their destinations safely. By lifting construction restrictions during one of the busiest weekends for travel, we’re helping all New Yorkers spend less time in traffic and more time with one another. We urge all motorists to drive carefully this holiday season, and if you do come across one of our crews over the coming weeks please slow down and give them room to do their jobs safely.”
New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare stated: “The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year,and suspending construction activities will help motorists getto their destinationswith fewer delays.We urge motorists tomake safety a priority-remain alert,dont drive distractedor impaired,and slow downand move overif itssafe todo so forall vehicleson thesideof theroad.Wethankour partnersatNewYorkStatePoliceTroopTforpatrollingtheThruwayandkeepingmotoristssafe.”
Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone noted: “The Thanksgiving holiday is a great opportunityto spendtimewithfamilyandfriends.Itisalsoatimewhensomepeoplemaydriveimpairedwhichputsthemselvesandothersindanger.Lawenforcementwillbeonthelookoutforimpairedandaggressivedrivers.TheSheriffsofNewYorkStatewantyoutoenjoythelongholidayweekend,besafe,courteousdrivers,andhaveaplantonotdriveimpaired.”
Paul Oliva,presidentoftheNewYorkStateAssociationofChiefsofPoliceandsupervisoroftheMountPleasantPoliceDepartmentsaid:“Asweentertheseasonofgivingthanksforourblessings ,locallawenforcementwillbeoutconductingImpairedDriverandExcessiveSpeedengagementdetails ,ensuringthattravelonourroadwaysissafeforeveryone.Pleasedriveattentivelysoallcanmaketheirdestinationstoenjoytheholidayweekendwithfamilyandfriends .”
The GTSC together with STOP-DWI Foundation offers a “Have a Plan” mobile app for Apple , Android ,and Windows phones . The app helps users find taxis or rideshares , designate sober drivers , learn about DWI laws , penalties ,and report suspected impaired drivers .
