The New York State Police will once again run their annual Halloween "Pumpkin Patrol" on October 30 and 31. This effort is meant to stop people from throwing things—like pumpkins—off bridges onto vehicles driving on the New York State Thruway.
Why it matters: Truckers and other drivers can be seriously hurt if something gets tossed at them from an overpass. In the past, drivers have even been badly injured by these dangerous pranks.
- The Pumpkin Patrol is a partnership between Troop T and volunteers from Citizen Band radio clubs and ham radio groups.
- These volunteers keep an eye on overpasses in more than a dozen counties and quickly alert police if they see anything suspicious.
- New York State Police will also have extra patrols on the roads over Halloween, looking out for not only pranks but also impaired, distracted, or aggressive driving.
The Pumpkin Patrol started back in 1976, thanks to a citizen and some local truckers who teamed up after a truck driver's windshield was hit by a thrown object. Police took over the project in 1990 and have continued it every year since, according to New York State Police.