P-J file photo

A special traffic enforcement by the New York State Police over the Memorial Day week resulted in 8,900 tickets being issued. Last year’s initiative, by comparison, resulted in 13,693 tickets and 225 arrests for motorists caught driving while intoxicated.

This year’s campaign began May 22 and ran through May 26 in locations across the state. Patrols were beefed up due to the expected increase in vehicle traffic during the typically bustling holiday weekend.

Sobriety checkpoints were established to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers, the New York State Police said in a news release. The initiative was funded by the governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

In the Western New York region, troopers made 13 driving while intoxicated arrests in addition to issuing 178 tickets for speeding, six for distracted driving and 25 for child restraint/seat belt violations.

Statewide, there were 203 arrests for DWI and 457 crashes that injured 11 people. Troopers also responded to two fatal crashes during the weekend.

As part of the enforcement, troopers also targeted drivers speeding and aggressive drivers across the state.