Over 100 Officers Participate in 'Night Hawk' Operation in Pennsylvania

Operation in Lancaster, Chester and York counties leads to hundreds of citations and dozens of arrests

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:20pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car key against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the physical evidence of traffic violations without depicting actual violence or victims.A crackdown on impaired and aggressive driving aims to improve safety on Pennsylvania's roads during a busy holiday weekend.Lancaster Today

Pennsylvania state police and local law enforcement conducted a two-day 'Night Hawk' operation last weekend in Lancaster, Chester and York counties, resulting in over 650 warnings, 55 DUI arrests, 21 drug arrests, and more than 230 other citations. The operation involved over 100 state police troopers and municipal officers targeting impaired driving, tailgating, seat belt violations, and aggressive driving.

Why it matters

The 'Night Hawk' operation was part of a broader effort by Pennsylvania state police to crack down on dangerous driving behaviors over the busy holiday weekend, as the state expects over 2 million travelers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. These types of targeted enforcement efforts aim to improve road safety and reduce the number of impaired and reckless drivers on the roads.

The details

The two-day 'Night Hawk' operation took place last weekend in Lancaster, Chester and York counties. Over 100 state police troopers and municipal law enforcement officers participated, resulting in over 650 warnings, 55 DUI arrests, 21 drug arrests, and more than 230 other citations. The operation targeted impaired driving, tailgating, seat belt violations, and aggressive driving behaviors.

  • The 'Night Hawk' operation was conducted last weekend.
  • The Pennsylvania Turnpike is expecting over 2 million travelers over the upcoming long holiday weekend.

The players

Pennsylvania State Police

The state law enforcement agency that led the 'Night Hawk' operation in coordination with local municipal police departments.

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What’s next

State police will continue to have a strong presence on the roads over the holiday weekend, focusing on impaired driving, aggressive driving, and other dangerous behaviors to improve safety for all travelers.

The takeaway

The 'Night Hawk' operation demonstrates the commitment of Pennsylvania law enforcement to crack down on unsafe driving behaviors and keep roads safe, especially during high-traffic holiday periods when the risk of accidents is elevated.