NYS Troopers Issue Over 8,000 Tickets During Big Game Weekend

Was your 2026 big game weekend exciting? Maybe the game was not the most exciting, but if you hosted or attended a pary, or maybe headed out to your favorite watering hole to enjoy the game, that's more fun than the actual game, right? Especially if your team is not represented in the championship round. I'm there for the food!

While it's all about fun and enjoying the capper of the 2026 professional football season, being responsible when it comes to enjoying those beverages.

Over the weekend from Friday, February 6th, through Sunday, February 8th, 2026, according to the New York State Police, troopers issued 8,263 tickets during their annual STOP-DWI traffic enforcement initiative. That's a decrease from last year. In 2025, troopers issued 8,663 tickets.

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New York State Police increased patrols and conducted sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify, and arrest impaired drivers throughout the Empire State. This campaign was funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies across New York State.

According to the report from the New York State Police, troopers arrested 177 drivers for DWI and investigated 822 crashes statewide. Unfortunately, one ended up being a fatal crash. The DWI number has increased from last year. In 2025, 161 motorists were arrested for DWI.

In addition, troopers targeted speeding, aggressive driving, and other dangerous driving behaviors. Over that short span of time, troopers ticketed 2,395 for speeding, 287 for distracted driving, 267 for seatbelt violations, and 115 for Move Over Law violations.

In the Southern Tier of New York, there were 11 DWI arrests, 194 tickets for speeding, 11 tickets for distracted driving, 27 tickets for seat belt violations, and 9 for the Move Over Law.

For Central New York, there were 15 DWI arrests, 226 tickets for speeding, 19 tickets for distracted driving, 18 tickets for seat belt violations, and 6 for the Move Over Law.

The New York State Police conduct these enforcement efforts to help prevent tragedies and keep New York’s roadways safe during high-traffic holiday and event weekends.