New York State Police issued 1,779 tickets to motorists during a campaign to crack down on work zone violations and highlight the importance of safe driving in constructions areas.
Operation Hardhat, an initiative between State Police, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority, took place between July and November.
State Troopers were present within the work zones, dressed as highway maintenance workers, to identify motorists who disobeyed flagging personnel, sped through the work zone or violated the state’s Move Over Law, which applies to both emergency and maintenance vehicles.
Tickets were handed out for the following violations:
- Speeding – 618
- Seatbelts – 187
- Cell Phone – 297
- Failure to Move Over – 141
- Failure to Obey Flagger – 2
- Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device – 17
- DWI – 1
- Other violations – 516
Additionally, the State Department of Transportation partnered with local law enforcement agencies on separate Operation Hardhat initiatives, resulting in 215 tickets issued to motorists, including tickets for speeding, seat belt violations, cell phone/electronic device use, expired inspections, among other violations.
