July 4 Crackdown Nets 10,000 Tickets in New York, 1,300 DUI Arrests in California

U.S. law-enforcement agencies reported a sharp uptick in impaired-driving enforcement over the extended Independence Day weekend, underscoring the continued focus on road safety during major holidays. The New York State Police said its annual Fourth of July STOP-DWI campaign resulted in more than 10,000 tickets from Thursday through Sunday. The sweep combined sobriety checkpoints and stepped-up patrols aimed at deterring alcohol- and drug-impaired driving. On the West Coast, the California Highway Patrol logged roughly 1,300 DUI arrests statewide during the same period, while the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Texas made 53 arrests in a three-day crackdown. In Austin, the local police department reported 39 DWI arrests between July 3 and July 6. Officials in each jurisdiction said the operations are part of broader efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and urged motorists to arrange sober transportation when celebrating.