BROOME COUNTY - On Monday, April 21, the Troop “C” Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Unit partnered up with the Department of Transportation (DOT) for an Operation Hard Hat enforcement detail in Kirkwood.  DOT crews were out on Interstate 81 north completing bridge work over Loughlin Road.

Operation Hard Hat targets reckless and distracted drivers in work zones and cracks down on work zone violations while highlighting the importance of safe driving when approaching construction, maintenance and emergency operation along state highways.  During the detail, a Trooper is embedded in an active construction zone and dressed as a construction worker.  Troopers watch for reckless behavior like speeding or people on an electronic device.  One person was stopped for traveling at 90 mph in the 55 mph work zone!

The work zone where the detail was held had signage reminding motorists that it’s a work zone with a lowered speed limit and that one of three lanes was shut down.

In about four hours, 69 tickets were issued: 52 for speeding; 11 for cell phones and one failure to move over.

Motorists are urged to drive responsibly in work zones.  Oftentimes the speed limit is reduced in work zones. 

Pay attention to signage, be alert, patient and focus on just driving.  Please be mindful of the crews working along the roadways, they deserve to go home to their families at the end of the day!

As a reminder, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.  Two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of your driver’s license.

- Information from the NYSP