State Police and Radio Volunteers Deploy for 50th Annual Thruway Pumpkin Patrol
Hundreds of amateur radio operators will monitor New York State Thruway overpasses this weekend to alert police about falling objects and other hazards during Halloween traffic.
By Natalia Costa ·
Drivers on the New York State Thruway will face increased surveillance this weekend as the 50th Annual Pumpkin Patrol begins. The operation runs from October 30 through October 31, focusing on bridges and overpasses where falling objects have historically caused accidents. Volunteers and police aim to protect motorists from common Halloween pranks that can turn deadly at high speeds.
The initiative is a joint effort between State Police Troop T and local amateur radio groups. Troop T handles exclusive patrol duties on the Thruway. More than several hundred volunteers across 16 counties will staff monitoring posts. These operators listen for reports of suspicious activity or objects being thrown onto the roadway. Upon detecting a hazard, they immediately alert nearby State Police units or local law enforcement for a rapid response.
The program originated in 1976 as a volunteer project in Fort Johnson, located in Montgomery County. State Police took over coordination of the effort in 1990. The agency integrated the patrol into its wider crime prevention strategy at that time. This year marks the fiftieth iteration of the event, which the agency credits to its continued partnership with the New York State Thruway Authority.
Fourteen distinct radio clubs are participating in this year's patrol. Groups include the Orange County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the Greene County Amateur Radio Club, and the Troy Amateur Radio Association. Other partners are the Schenectady Museum Radio Association and the Montgomery Radio Association. The list also features the Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association and the Madison-Oneida Amateur Radio Club. Additional participants include the Liverpool Amateur Repeater Club, the Drumlins Amateur Radio Club, and the Skenoh Island Amateur Radio Club.
The Monroe County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the Genesee County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service also contribute to the network. Volunteers from the Erie County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the Chautauqua County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service round out the coalition. These organizations provide the technical infrastructure needed to keep communication lines open between observation points and police dispatch.
The Pumpkin Patrol operates alongside standard State Police enforcement actions for the holiday. Officers will increase patrols targeting impaired driving and underage drinking during the same two-day period. The combined efforts aim to address both traffic volume and specific prank-related risks on the state's primary highway system.
