Riverhead Town Police issued 708 summonses during the state’s two-week “Buckle Up New York – Click It or Ticket” traffic safety campaign, which ran from May 18 through May 31, 2026, according to a department media release.
Police said the department used targeted patrols and seatbelt/safety checkpoints to enforce seatbelt compliance and address other vehicle and traffic violations throughout Riverhead Town.
Three checkpoints were conducted during the campaign, police said. One nighttime checkpoint was held after 4 p.m. on West Main Street near Kroemer Avenue. Two daytime checkpoints were conducted on Route 105 near Route 2 and on the Long Island Expressway Exit 73 entrance ramp, according to police.
Those three checkpoints resulted in 218 summonses, including 48 for seatbelt violations, nine for child restraint violations, 18 for cell phone violations and 143 for other vehicle and traffic violations, police said. The “other” violations included offenses such as unlicensed operation, driving with a revoked or suspended license, uninspected vehicles, cracked windshields and unregistered vehicles.
Overall, the campaign’s combined checkpoint and patrol enforcement resulted in 708 summonses, including 97 for seatbelt violations, 20 for child restraint violations and 58 for cell phone violations, police said. The remaining summonses were issued for other vehicle and traffic violations.
Riverhead Police said the department will participate in additional Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee-sponsored enforcement efforts this summer, including the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which targets aggressive driving violations such as failure to yield, following too closely, unsafe lane changes and passing, failure to signal, stop sign violations and disregarding traffic control devices. Police also said officers will enforce violations involving drivers who fail to properly stop before making a right turn on red.
In August, Riverhead Police said the department will take part in the GTSC’s “Speed Week” campaign, which focuses on areas where speeding is a major issue.
Anyone with information about suspicious or criminal activity is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department’s Crime Hotline at 631-727-3333. Calls will be kept confidential, police said.
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