New York cops disguised themselves as construction workers and doled out nearly 1,000 tickets to unsuspecting drivers last month.
State troopers in coordination with Department of Transportation conducted Operation Hard Hat from April 20 through April 24 on the New York Thruway, setting up 12 enforcement details within active work zones, according to New York State Police.
Some of the troopers donned orange helmets and safety vests while camping out in Westchester and Rockland counties to trick drivers into thinking there were no police officers nearby.
The troopers hit the nail on the head with their plan and doled out a staggering total of 967 tickets.
The phony hard hat highlights included 401 speeding tickets, 138 citations for distracted driving, and 160 violations of the Move Over Law, NYSP reported.
The Move Over Law, which went into effect in March 2024, stipulates that drivers are required to safely change lanes or significantly slow down for any stopped vehicle.
The entrapment set-up is meant to highlight ongoing safety concerns and was part of Work Zone Awareness Week, authorities said.
“The New York State Police reminds all motorists that work zones demand heightened attention. Drivers are required to slow down, remain alert, and comply with New York’s Move Over Law,” NYSP said Friday.
“These are laws in place to protect highway workers, emergency personnel, and all motorists traveling through active work zones.”
The incredible 967 tickets over four days is a massive 35% increase in vehicles ticketed in the 2025 Operation Hard Hat initiative, according to cops.
