The New York State Police issued 22,867 tickets during this year’s “Operation Hang Up,” a weeklong enforcement effort aimed at curbing distracted driving, officials announced Monday. The crackdown ran from April 7 to April 14, and led to 4,607 citations specifically for drivers using electronic devices behind the wheel.
The initiative is part of a broader public safety effort during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives nationwide in 2023.
State Police said violations during the enforcement period included texting, talking on a handheld phone, or operating other electronic devices while driving — all infractions under New York’s distracted driving laws.
The latest numbers reflect a year-over-year increase in enforcement. In April 2024, troopers issued 21,768 tickets during the same campaign, including 4,056 for distracted driving.
In Troop C, which covers parts of Central New York including Delaware County, troopers issued 1,496 total tickets, including 154 tickets for texting; 89 for cellphone use, and 243 for distracted driving.
