Results from State Police Motorcycle Safety Checkpoint
(October 9, 2007 - East Fishkill, N.Y.) – Some 280 motorcyclists were stopped during a motorcycle safety checkpoint Sunday, October 7th on Interstate 84 in Dutchess County by the New York State Police, in conjunction with local police and the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Field Investigations Unit. 104 summons were issued for safety and equipment violations, with the most common being Unapproved Helmets.
The safety checkpoint was conducted at the eastbound rest area on Interstate 84 in the Town of East Fishkill, approximately two miles east of the Taconic State Parkway. The purpose of the checkpoint, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., was to increase motorcycle safety by insuring compliance with applicable Vehicle & Traffic Laws.
Motorcycle fatalities have doubled in the last 10 years, during which time passenger vehicle fatalities have decreased. In New York State, motorcycle fatalities increased 30 percent from 2005 – 2006. As a percentage of all traffic fatalities, motorcycle fatalities now account for 10 percent, up from 5 percent in 1997. Approximately one-quarter of all fatally injured motorcycle drivers were unlicensed in 2005 and an alarming 61 percent of motorcycle operators who died in single-vehicle crashes had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 percent or more.
Reasons for this growing problem include:
- An increase in the number of motorcycles on our highways
- An increase in engine size and speed capabilities of motorcycles
- Increases in the total traffic volume of all vehicles on our highways
- The marketing of speed by manufacturers and media
- Elimination or weakening of helmet laws in some states
- An increase in the use of sub-standard and illegal helmets
- An increase of older, less experienced motorcycle drivers
- Lack of driver training
At the checkpoint, which was modeled after a commercial vehicle checkpoint, motorcyclists were directed into the rest area where state and local police and DMV investigators conducted inspections for proper licenses, safety helmets, exhaust systems and other safety and regulatory violations. Also participating in the operation were the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Kent and Town of East Fishkill Police Departments.
In addition, the State Police conducted an aerial speed enforcement operation nearby, which in addition to identifying speeding vehicles, was positioned in order to assist ground patrols in the event that a motorcyclists attempted to evade the inspection area. Although no motorcyclists intentionally attempted to avoid the checkpoint, 18 cyclists failed to observe the signs directing them to enter the rest area. All 18 motorcycles were stopped by a Trooper operating a Camaro patrol car and escorted back to the checkpoint.
Enforcement data that resulted from this operation includes:
- Number of motorcycles through the checkpoint 280
- Number of motorcycles inspected 225
- Total Number of tickets issued 104
- Of the total number of tickets issued, 15 were issued at the aerial speed enforcement detail, 25 were issued at a seatbelt checkpoint at Exit 17 of I-84 and 64 tickets issued at the motorcycle inspection site.
- Of the 64 tickets issued to motorcyclists at the inspection site, 41 were for unapproved helmets, 7 for illegal exhaust systems, 3 for unlicensed operation and 13 other various violations.
In addition to the traffic violations noted above, the DMV investigators identified three custom motorcycles that had non-conforming Vehicle Identification Numbers. The operators of these motorcycles will be required to appear at a DMV Field Office with their motorcycles for a more comprehensive investigation.
The State Police expect to expand this program statewide in the summer of 2008.