New York State Police and local law enforcement have begun a Halloween traffic-enforcement campaign that runs from Sunday, Oct. 25, through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the statewide effort on Oct. 24, with impaired and reckless driving as its focus.

As part of this campaign, police will increase Halloween DWI patrols to ensure the safety of all drivers and pedestrians.

For people in Utica and the Mohawk Valley, the practical step is to settle the ride home before heading to a party. Drivers also need to slow down and watch for children near the road as Halloween approaches. The warning applies even to a short drive through a familiar neighborhood.

What the enforcement campaign covers

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee funds the campaign. The state says the effort includes extra DWI patrols and sobriety checkpoints, with officers also watching for speeding and distracted driving. The coordinated initiatives support enforcement against underage drinking as well. The governor’s announcement does not identify specific checkpoints in Utica or Oneida County.

During the 2025 Halloween initiative, officers issued 44,545 citations statewide. That included 1,210 for impaired driving and 8,701 for speeding, according to the announcement. Those are last year’s statewide figures, not results from the current campaign.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy their Halloween and make some great memories,” Hochul said. Her message urged drivers to avoid impairment, distraction and speeding.

Why Halloween traffic deserves extra attention

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Halloween campaign page reports that 201 people died in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween nights from 2019 through 2024. That measure includes crashes involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of .01 or higher.

Within that broader toll, the agency reports 176 deaths in crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher. These are overlapping measures, so the two totals should not be added together. For this data, Halloween night means 6 p.m. Oct. 31 through 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1.

NHTSA also reports that 54 percent of traffic deaths among people ages 21 to 34 during the listed Halloween period occurred in drunk-driving crashes. These are national historical figures. They do not describe current crashes in Utica or the results of this week’s New York patrols.

Children face a different street-safety risk

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined U.S. pedestrian deaths from 1975 through 2016. Researchers compared Halloween evenings with the same hours one week before and one week after the holiday. Their study window was 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., which differs from NHTSA’s overnight alcohol-crash window.

The study found a 43 percent higher risk of pedestrian death on Halloween than on those comparison evenings. Children ages 4 to 8 had the largest relative increase, at ten times the comparison level. The finding concerns fatal crashes, not every incident in which a child was struck by a vehicle.

The researchers did not argue for ending trick-or-treating. They called for safer streets throughout the year, including measures to reduce speed and improve visibility. Their results provide long-term context, not a forecast of what will happen in any one neighborhood this Saturday.

Make the ride plan before the celebration

NHTSA’s Halloween guidance asks partygoers to choose a sober driver or arrange a taxi or ride service before drinking. It warns that even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving. Hosts should help guests get home safely, including arranging a ride or a place to stay when needed.

• Choose a driver who will not drink, or arrange another safe way home.
• Do not let a friend who has been drinking get behind the wheel.
• Slow down and scan for people walking, including children who may enter the street unexpectedly.
• When walking, use crosswalks or intersections where possible and look for turning vehicles.
• If you see a suspected impaired driver, contact law enforcement.

The New York STOP-DWI “Have a Plan” page links to its app for Apple and Android phones. The tool is offered by the state Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation. It can help users locate and call a taxi, save a designated-driver list and find information about DWI laws and penalties. It also includes a way to report a suspected impaired driver.

Local resources and what comes next

Oneida County’s STOP-DWI program provides a local point of contact for prevention and education. The county says its work includes targeted enforcement, coordination of DWI cases through probation and a victim impact panel where people affected by drunk-driving crashes speak to sentenced offenders.

The program also offers awareness presentations for elementary schools, high schools, colleges and community groups. For information about those programs, the county lists STOP-DWI Coordinator Daniel DeLuke at 315-765-2536. The office is at 120 Base Road in Oriskany.

This week’s statewide enforcement period continues through Halloween. The announcement provides the campaign dates, but no Utica-specific patrol schedule. Residents looking for broader advice on costumes, street crossings and treats can also read the Phoenix’s separate Halloween safety guide for Mohawk Valley families.