Governor Kathy Hochul announced a major enforcement mobilization to ensure road safety during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. From March 10-17, law enforcement agencies issued 55,661 tickets statewide for various traffic violations, including 1,224 for impaired driving, according to the Governor’s Office.

The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee launched an initiative with sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols to reduce reckless driving. Governor Hochul said, "Public safety is my number one priority, and alongside our partners in law enforcement, we’re cracking down on dangerous and illegal driving that puts our communities at risk." The initiative targeted impaired driving, speeding, and aggressive driving, resulting in over 10,000 speeding tickets. New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stated, "I applaud the tremendous work put forth by our State Police members and law enforcement partners that have attributed to the success of this initiative," as reported by the Governor’s Office.

"Hopefully everyone had a great St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Most people enjoyed their time responsibly. Some people didn’t by driving impaired or aggressively. Many of these dangerous drivers were ticketed by law enforcement to keep the roads safe for all users," said Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone. The state also provides resources for those dealing with addiction, including the 24-hour HOPEline and the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard, which helps find addiction treatment services. This enforcement is part of New York State's efforts to reduce substance-impaired driving and improve road safety, as stated by the Governor’s Office.