YONKERS, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The Thanksgiving holiday week begins on Sunday, but a lot of events, as well as travel to them, have already begun. That’s why the New York State Police Department said that it has now increased patrols on roadways, and will have an enhanced presence of troopers on major roads through Dec. 1.
State Police statistics show that from this weekend to next, the volume of traffic on New York roadways is heavier than usual. The department's research also shows that more people drive impaired during the period from now through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the weekend afterward.
As a result, there are more state troopers than usual on the roads and at checkpoints visible throughout the state, currently.
The state police department also said that it has troopers on patrol who are not visible. They're part of teams called CITE, or "concealed identity traffic enforcement" -- the unmarked cars that turn on lights and sirens and pull people after they've observed hazardous driving.
When the crackdown took place during Thanksgiving week last year, troopers made 1,342 DWI arrests, and wrote 7,656 speeding tickets, as well as 970 tickets for distracted driving.
On Saturday, drivers who spoke with PIX11 News said that the nine-day enhanced enforcement effort was important. They each indicated different reasons for their support of the action.
"I don't know if I trust people to always make the right decision sometimes," said Anthony Gianfrancesco, a motorist who lives in Yonkers. "So checkpoints are probably not a bad thing," he added.
Shalika Belcher was behind the wheel of her SUV when she talked about the state police effort.
"I think those things are necessary for the safety of everybody," she said, "people walking, people driving. Some people don't realize the power behind these cars."
Nick Demayo also lives in Yonkers and had just gotten out of his sedan when he spoke with PIX11 News. "More state troopers on the roads and police," is what he said he wanted. He added that to him, it's important for law enforcement to take action to "pull over the illegal drivers, drunk drivers, [and] ghost plates."
New York State Police also pointed out that the department's enforcement effort is being done in conjunction with local police departments statewide. So, local roadways will also have a greater presence of law enforcement, in addition to major highway routes, weekend-to-weekend.
In fact, when the crackdown happened last year, state and local law enforcement issued a combined total of more than 35,000 tickets across New York State.
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