New York State troopers placed 49 commercial vehicles out of service during a recent one-day enforcement effort on the Thruway.
On Feb. 26, New York State Police Troop T conducted targeted traffic enforcements along the Thruway focused on unsafe driving behaviors, along with commercial vehicle safety inspections.
Troopers said the initiative comes in light of multiple recent crashes this winter that involved dozens of tractor-trailers, other commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles. While no serious injuries resulted, the incidents created major traffic impacts and necessitated large-scale responses, particularly for those crashes that occurred in the western part of the state.
During the Feb. 26 detail, troopers said they issued 535 tickets to both passenger and commercial operators, of which 42% (224) were for speeding. Other tickets included Move Over Law violations, electronic device use/distracted driving, and no seatbelt, along with other vehicle and traffic law violations.
The tickets also included specific commercial vehicle violations such as equipment, permit and registration violations. Troopers with the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) inspected 148 commercial vehicles and 49 were immediately taken out of service due to safety-related violations, including being overweight or over height.
Citations were also issued to 60 commercial vehicle operators who attempted to avoid the CVEU checkpoint. Additionally, Troop T made four DWI arrests on February 26.
Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “Ensuring that commercial vehicles on the Thruway are properly maintained and operated safely is essential to protecting everyone who relies on our system. Commercial drivers not only play a vital role in our state’s economy, professional drivers also play a critical role in keeping our roadways safe, and we urge all operators to follow the rules of the road, conduct regular vehicle inspections, and make safety their top priority."
Superintendent Steven G. James said, “A core mission of the State Police is to ensure the safety of the state’s roadways, and our troopers work hard every day to successfully carry out this mandate. Focused enforcement details such as these allow us to proactively respond to specific challenges, educate the public about safe driving, and when necessary, remove unsafe vehicles and motorists from the road.
"We’ve had an active winter and it’s not over yet. While we can’t control Mother Nature’s impact on road conditions, we can —and must — control how we operate behind the wheel. Stay alert, drive responsibly for the conditions, make sure your vehicle is in proper condition, and obey the law. Your actions can help eliminate risks to you and all other motorists.”
