New York State Police have already issued 1,222 tickets during Operation Hardhat in 2020, exceeding totals for 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced.
The initiative between State Police, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority, cracks down on work zone violations and highlights the importance of safe driving when encountering construction, maintenance and emergency operations along state highways.
With at least three months left in the construction season, the 2020 total already surpasses the 1,048 tickets issued by State Troopers during all of 2019.
“Through Operation Hardhat, we continue to aggressively crack down on work zone violators who put our highway workers in harm’s way,” Governor Cuomo said. “Essential transportation projects and ongoing maintenance activities to keep our highways safe are underway across New York State, and for the safety of our highway workers everyone is obligated to follow the speed limit in work zones and eliminate distractions on the road.”
Under Operation Hardhat, State Troopers are present within the work zones, dressed as highway maintenance workers, to identify motorists who disobey flagging personnel, speed through the work zone or violate the state’s Move Over Law, which applies to both emergency and maintenance vehicles.
“All we ask for is your undivided attention and a moment of your time so maintenance workers can go home unharmed at the end of their shifts,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll. “Thank you to our partners at the State Police for patrolling the Thruway and enforcing our work zones speed limits to protect the men and women of the Thruway Authority. These crews work hard every day so that drivers have a safe roadway to get to and from their destinations.”
