New York State Police will increase patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints statewide during Super Bowl weekend as part of a special STOP-DWI enforcement campaign aimed at curbing impaired and reckless driving.
The initiative, funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, runs from Friday, February 6, through Sunday, February 8, 2026, a period that historically sees a spike in alcohol-related crashes tied to Super Bowl parties and gatherings.
Troopers will be out in force during the three-day campaign, using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement, or CITE, vehicles. The unmarked patrol cars are designed to blend into everyday traffic, allowing troopers to better spot dangerous behaviors such as impaired driving and the use of handheld devices behind the wheel. Once emergency lights are activated, the vehicles are clearly identifiable as law enforcement.
State Police say the enforcement effort is part deterrence, part prevention. While STOP-DWI campaigns have contributed to long-term declines in alcohol-related traffic fatalities across New York, officials say impaired driving remains a persistent and deadly problem.
During the 2025 Super Bowl enforcement period, State Police arrested 161 people for driving while impaired and issued 8,663 tickets for various traffic violations.
In addition to DWI patrols, troopers will also focus on underage drinking enforcement and remind motorists of the state’s “Move Over” law, which requires drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching stopped emergency or hazard vehicles on the roadside.
Penalties for impaired driving in New York can be severe, including fines of up to $10,000, prison sentences of up to seven years, and license revocation.
Officials are also urging Super Bowl hosts to take responsibility for their guests’ safety. Recommendations include designating sober drivers in advance, offering rides or arranging rideshare services, serving food and non-alcoholic beverages, and stopping alcohol service before the game ends. Hosts are encouraged to keep taxi numbers handy and prevent anyone who has been drinking from getting behind the wheel.
State officials also point to the “Have a Plan” mobile app, developed by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation. The app allows users to call local taxi services, set up designated driver lists, review DWI laws and penalties, and report suspected impaired drivers.
Law enforcement officials caution that hosts can be held legally liable if a guest they served alcohol to is involved in a crash, and parents or guardians may face liability if an underage driver causes damage, injury, or death after drinking.
Image: A view of Levi’s Stadium ahead of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, in Santa Clara. Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)