New York Boosts Police Patrols for St. Patrick's Day

Increased enforcement aims to curb drunk driving and underage drinking during holiday celebrations

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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New York state and local law enforcement agencies are ramping up traffic enforcement and patrols across the state in the days leading up to St. Patrick's Day. The goal is to crack down on drunk, impaired, and reckless driving, as well as underage alcohol sales and consumption, during one of the biggest celebration weekends of the year.

Why it matters

St. Patrick's Day celebrations often bring an increase in impaired driving incidents, which can lead to tragic consequences. This annual enforcement period is an effort to prevent these types of preventable crashes and remind drivers that getting behind the wheel impaired is not worth the risk.

The details

From now through March 17, New York State Police and local law enforcement will increase patrols, set up more checkpoints, and conduct more traffic stops as part of a statewide crackdown. They will also be conducting checks at stores and retail locations to enforce laws around underage alcohol sales and drinking.

  • The enforcement period runs from now through March 17, the day of St. Patrick's Day.
  • Last year's St. Patrick's Day crackdown resulted in 1,224 DWI arrests, over 10,000 speeding tickets, and more than 55,000 tickets issued overall across New York.

The players

New York State Police

The state law enforcement agency leading the increased patrols and enforcement efforts.

Local law enforcement agencies

Police departments across New York that are participating in the heightened enforcement for the St. Patrick's Day holiday period.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This enforcement campaign highlights the ongoing efforts to combat impaired driving and underage drinking during major holiday celebrations in New York. By increasing patrols and checkpoints, officials hope to deter dangerous behavior and prevent tragedies before they occur.