Garden City police kicked off the New Year with an aggressive truck stop campaign to get unsafe trucks and drivers off village streets.

The campaign at the intersection of Clinton Road and Commercial Avenue stopped 20 trucks and took 13 of them out of service for various equipment and driver violations, including one driver who had a suspended license, according to Inspector Kenneth Jackson. In addition, drivers were issued 127 tickets for vehicle and operator infractions.

"Safe trucks and properly certified drivers make the residents and workers in Garden City safer," Inspector Jackson said. "As a result of our truck stops, serious incidents involving commercial vehicles in the village have been minimal. That's the way we want to keep it."

Three agents from the New York State Department of Transportation assisted the four Garden City police officers at the truck stop. The 13 trucks taken out of service either had to be repaired on site or towed to their home facilities before they could be allowed back on the road.

Last year the department's truck stop involved 47 checkpoints and 487 vehicles, of which 191 were taken out of service. The department's officers also issued 2,477 tickets at the checkpoints.

"Garden City has a reputation among trucks as a tough place," Inspector Jackson added. "In fact, one driver told me, 'I try to stay away from your village whenever I can.' That's just fine with us. If they are staying away, they have a reason to stay away. We want our streets to be as safe as possible for all."