NY cracks down on drunk driving ahead of Thanksgiving.

NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York state officials are ramping up traffic enforcement ahead of Thanksgiving.

Starting Saturday, increased patrols will look for drunk and otherwise unsafe drivers across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. It’s the busiest travel season of the year and it welcomes risky behavior, state officials said.

During last year's Thanksgiving enforcement period, the state issued over 35,000 tickets, including 1,342 DWI arrests and 7,656 speeding tickets.

“Thanksgiving kicks off the busiest travel season of the year, and we want everyone to reach their friends and loved ones safely,” Hochul said.

The state will also lift construction-related road closures between Wednesday and Dec. 2.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.