Over 4,000 Citations, 100 DWI Arrests Made During ‘Operation Southern Shield’: State PD

LONG ISLAND, NY — New York State Police announced that a months-long traffic enforcement initiative on the Southern State Parkway had resulted in over 4,000 citations, 900 speeding violations and 100 DWI arrests.

According to police, the initiative ran from April 24 through June 30, with the stated goal of reducing “preventable crashes” on the parkway through “targeted enforcement efforts.”

The Southern State Parkway has seen no shortage of accidents and even fatalities in recent years, including a recent crash that took the life of a 4-year-old boy and a March crash that left two people dead.

In light of those crashes, state police began the targeted enforcement efforts that police said led to the issuance of 4,454 citations, 906 speeding violations, 46 move over violations, 351 cell phone violations, 3,039 vehicle and traffic law violations and 112 DWI arrests.

Police did not say what "targeted enforcement efforts" entailed, but officials did say that the traffic enforcement initiative had been a "necessary reminder" of the importance of driving safely.

“Our local and state police respond to countless preventable tragedies on our roads, and Operation Southern Shield was a necessary reminder to our residents of the importance of driving safely,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “All traffic violations, big or small, come with the risk of serious collisions and life-altering outcomes. This operation cracked down on all-too-common dangerous conduct behind the wheel, and I thank the New York State Police for making it such a priority. All New Yorkers can learn something from Operation Southern Shield, and I hope it leads to a summer of safe travels.”

For his part, Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said “too many drivers are still gambling with their lives and the lives of others” when they get behind the wheel.

“Speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving continue to put Suffolk County families at risk, and this operation shows exactly why sustained enforcement matters,” Tierney said. “I commend the New York State Police for their work, and I want every driver on our roads to understand that reckless choices behind the wheel will have consequences.”