Officials confirmed extra police will be patrolling roads across New York State. Many officers will be hiding in plain sight.

On Monday, New York State Police announced State Police will participate in a national crackdown on distracted driving as part of April’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The enforcement effort, called Operation Hang Up, will include increased patrols and checkpoints targeting drivers using electronic devices while behind the wheel. This year’s enforcement detail will run until Monday, April 11, 2022.

Using,A,Phone,In,A,Car,Texting,While,Driving,Concept
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“Distracted Driving continues to be a leading factor in motor vehicle crashes. Yet, the deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving are 100 percent preventable. Drivers must be aware of their surroundings and consciously reduce distractions and behaviors that take their attention from the road. State Police will continue to work toward making New York’s roads safer and we will hold distracted drivers accountable," New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said.

New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
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Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles to easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving.

NYSP
NYSP
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"CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe distracted driving violations. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated," New York State Police states.

Facebook/New York State Department of Transportation
Facebook/New York State Department of Transportation
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 people were killed in the United States in distraction-affected crashes in 2020.

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