New York Thruway Safety Sweep Puts 49 Trucks Out of Service in One Day

New York State Police conducted a targeted Thruway enforcement on February 26, inspecting 148 commercial vehicles and taking 49 trucks out of service for safety violations. Troopers issued 535 tickets and made four DWI arrests to keep roadways safe.

The New York State Police’s Troop T carried out a focused enforcement operation along the New York State Thruway on February 26, targeting unsafe driving behaviors and conducting thorough commercial vehicle inspections.

The effort comes after several winter crashes involving tractor-trailers, commercial vehicles, and passenger cars, which caused significant traffic disruptions, particularly in western New York. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported in those incidents.

During the operation, troopers issued a total of 535 citations to passenger and commercial drivers. Of those, 224 tickets, or 42 percent, were for speeding. Additional violations included Move Over Law infractions, distracted driving due to electronic devices, and failure to wear seatbelts. Commercial vehicle-specific citations were also issued for issues with permits, registration, and equipment.

Troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit inspected 148 trucks, and 49 were immediately placed out of service for safety violations, including overweight or over-height loads. In addition, 60 drivers received citations for attempting to evade the CVEU checkpoint. Troopers also made four DWI arrests during the day.

“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,” said NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James. “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.”

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal