Nearly one-third of commercial vehicles inspected during a targeted enforcement operation on the New York State Thruway were placed out of service for safety violations.

Troopers with the New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit inspected 148 commercial vehicles during the Feb. 26 enforcement detail. Of those, 49 trucks were immediately taken out of service for violations, including overweight and overheight conditions.

The operation followed several winter crashes involving dozens of tractor-trailers, commercial vehicles, and passenger vehicles across the state. While no serious injuries were reported, the incidents caused major traffic disruptions, particularly in western New York.

In total, troopers issued 535 tickets during the operation to passenger and commercial drivers. Speeding accounted for 224 citations — about 42% of all tickets issued.

Other violations included distracted driving, Move Over Law violations, seatbelt infractions, and equipment, permit, and registration violations tied to commercial vehicles. Authorities also cited 60 truck drivers who attempted to avoid the commercial vehicle checkpoint.

“A core mission of the State Police is to ensure the safety of the state’s roadways,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “Focused enforcement details such as these allow us to proactively respond to specific challenges and remove unsafe vehicles and motorists from the road.”

Frank Hoare, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, said properly maintained commercial vehicles are essential to keeping highways safe.

“Commercial drivers play a vital role in our state’s economy and in maintaining roadway safety,” Hoare said.

State police also made four impaired-driving arrests during the enforcement effort.