Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies across Long Island are dramatically increasing DWI patrols this Memorial Day weekend, with the special enforcement period running through Monday, May 25, 2026 at 11 p.m., according to Long Island Life & Politics, which first reported the crackdown.
The extra patrols are being funded through grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). Drivers throughout Long Island and New York State can expect to encounter sobriety checkpoints as well as both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles. CITE vehicles are designed to blend into everyday traffic, allowing Troopers to more easily observe driving violations before emergency lighting is activated. According to Long Island Life & Politics, NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James stated: “Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the busy summer travel season, and our members will be highly visible across the state working to keep motorists safe. We are reminding everyone to make responsible decisions before getting behind the wheel. Impaired, reckless, and distracted driving place lives at risk and will not be tolerated on New York’s roadways.”
In Nassau County, the District Attorney’s Office awarded $30,000 grants apiece to the Long Beach Police Department and Freeport Police Department to fund enhanced DWI patrols from Memorial Day through Labor Day — a period widely described as one of the deadliest on Nassau County roads. The grants are fully funded by criminal asset forfeiture collected by the Nassau County DA’s office. Officers deployed under the grants are trained in field sobriety tests, breath analysis, and drug recognition. Patrols will focus on peak travel periods and target areas where DWI offenses are most likely to occur, including bars, waterfront areas, and outdoor restaurants.
The stakes are backed up by recent data. During the summer grant period from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2025, Freeport Police made 63 DWI arrests — accounting for 43% of the department’s total DWI arrests for all of 2025. Long Beach Police made 39 DWI arrests in 2025 overall, with 21 of those occurring during that same summer grant window. Statewide, New York State Troopers arrested 245 people for driving while impaired over Memorial Day weekend 2025 alone, issued 12,062 total tickets, and investigated 774 crashes, three of which were fatal.
Nassau County’s broader crash picture is equally sobering. In 2025, 20 innocent victims were killed by drunk, drugged, or reckless drivers countywide. Of all motor vehicle crashes in Nassau last year, 91 resulted in serious physical injury or death — a 16% increase from 2024. Since January 2026, Nassau County has already seen 33 crashes resulting in serious injury or death, with 15 fatalities and 22 seriously injured. Five of those deaths are attributed to three impaired or reckless drivers. Nassau DA Anne Donnelly said: “This weekend, our roads will only get more dangerous as tourists and New Yorkers start traveling across Long Island for summer barbeques, graduation parties, or vacations at the beach. More cars on the road can create more risk, especially when combined with alcohol or drug activity.”
Long Beach Police Commissioner Richard DePalma noted that the City of Long Beach sees a significant increase in both pedestrian and vehicular traffic during summer months, calling the grant funds “an integral part of our efforts to maintain safe streets and protect both residents and visitors.” Freeport Police Chief Michael Smith urged residents to “enjoy this time responsibly,” adding: “Our summer patrols have increased, and there is zero tolerance for driving under the influence.”
Location & Road Context
This enforcement covers roadways throughout Long Island and New York State, with Nassau County’s targeted deployment focused on Long Beach and Freeport — both high-traffic waterfront communities that draw large crowds during summer months. These communities are specifically identified as areas where DWI offenses cluster around bars, waterfront establishments, and outdoor dining.
To ease Memorial Day travel, temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, in alignment with the state’s Drivers First Initiative. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or if emergency repairs are required.
Broader Impact
The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation offer a “Have a Plan” mobile app — available for Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones — that lets users locate taxi services, program a designated driver list, access DWI laws and penalties, and report suspected impaired drivers. Drivers are also reminded that New York’s Move Over Law requires slowing down and moving over for all stopped vehicles along the roadway, including law enforcement, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance vehicles, and disabled vehicles.