Traffic Safety Committee Minutes - February 25, 2026

Meeting Called to Order: 11:00 A.M.

Roll Call: 

Deputy Chief David Regina, Suffolk County PD, Director of Public Safety Richard Tantalo, Monroe County, Chief Kenzie Spaulding, Corning PD, Chief William Worden, Port Jervis PD, Commissioner (ret.) Kenneth Jackson, Garden City PD, Chief Charles Dobson, Lake Placid PD, Chief (ret.) Daniel Denz, West Seneca PD (NYSACOP Traffic Safety Services Coordinator), Chief (ret.) Michael Geraci, Schenectady PD (NYSACOP TSOL), Director, Training & Administration (ret.) Frank Galerie, NYS Attorney General’s Office (NYSACOP GTSC LEL), Assistant Chief (ret.) William Georges, Albany PD (NYSACOP TSOL & TSC Chairman)

Excused: Commissioner (ret.) Kenneth Jackson, Garden City PD

Leave of Absence: Chief (ret.) Joseph Sinagra, Saugerties PD
 

Guests: No guests this meeting

Approval of January 14, 2026 Committee Meeting Minutes:

1st:      Chief Spaulding
2nd:    Chief Worden

Old Business/Updates:

• NYS TAP Committee/DRE Issues:

NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie stated that there was nothing new to report re: the NYS TAP Committee/DRE Issues. The next Impaired Driving Council Meeting is scheduled for May (date TBD).
 

• Warning Tickets:

Chairman Georges updated TSC members on status of the project.
 

• E-Bikes, Ride Outs, Dirt Bikes & ATVs:

Chairman Georges updated TSC members on status of the development of the E-Bike/E-Mobility training program and resource packet being created with the assistance of Deputy Chief Regina.

Deputy Chief Regina reported that the local laws re: E-Bikes and E-Mobility that have been enacted in Nassau County are showing successful results. Suffolk County is in the process of adopting similar local laws and he believes those will be equally successful once implemented.

• Courtroom Testimony Training:

Chairman Georges updated TSC members on status of the project direction with the TSRPs, DCJS and GTSC.

• Changes to DMV Point System:

Chairman Georges reviewed DMV “P” Series Memo #3 and discussed the new Points Chart.

• MPTC Basic Course for Police Officers, Vehicle Stops & Traffic Enforcement Course:

Chairman Georges, TSSC Denz and NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie updated TSC members on DCJS establishing a SME Committee and the current status of the project.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Crash Data Review:

Nothing to report.

• Outreach to Regional Chiefs of Police Associations: 

TSSC Denz briefed the TSC members on his recent attendance at the Erie County Chiefs regional meeting on February 11, 2026, NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie spoke on his attendance at the Northeast Regional Chiefs meeting also held on February 11, 2026 where Chief Dobson was in attendance as well and Deputy Chief Regina reported on his attendance at the Suffolk County Chiefs meeting which was held earlier this date.

• Outreach to NYSACOP Major City Chiefs:

Nothing to report.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie informed the TSC members that the FY2027 GTSC Grant Application Notification Letters should be coming out mid-March and that GTSC has recently updated and printed their VTL Enforcement pamphlets, which he could send out if any members desired them.

TSSC Denz reported on his grant review visit to the Town of Brighton PD on February 10, 2026 with GTSC Program Manager Christopher Roscoe. Director Tantalo added that Christopher and other GTSC staff attended the Monroe County Traffic Safety Board meeting which followed the grant review.

Chief Spaulding reported her agency received a SoToxa™ Oral Fluid Mobile Test System which was supplied by GTSC DRE Manager Renee Boardman.

• Other:

Nothing to report.

Upcoming Events:

• NYSACOP Zones 1 & 2 Points of Contact Meeting, Nassau Co. Police Academy, March 4, 2026:

Chairman Georges did an overview of this event. Deputy Chief Reginia reported that during the Suffolk County Chiefs meeting, NYSACOP Zone 1 Representative Chief James Kiernan, Southampton Town PD, highly encouraged the Suffolk County Chiefs to send their respective POC’s to this event.

• NYSACOP/DCJS Police Executive Training Seminar, week of March 23rd, Albany Marriott Hotel, Colonie, N.Y:

Chairman Georges did an overview of this event including the Traffic Safety Executive Leadership presentation that he and TSSC Denz would once again be presenting.

• ESLETS Conference, (New Dates) April 27 & 28, Saratoga, Springs, N.Y:

Chairman Georges did an overview of this event.

• NYS Law Enforcement Recognition Event, April 28th, Albany Capital Center, Albany, N.Y:

Chairman Georges did an overview of this event.

• NYSACOP Annual Conference, May 18-21, 2026, Lake Placid, N.Y:

Chairman Georges did an overview of this event.

New Business:

• Transition to Crash Record information System & New Versions of Police Crash Reports:

Chairman Georges discussed DMV “P” Series Memo #1 which addressed the rollout of the new Crash Reports and NYSACOP GTSC LEL discussed and explained the follow-up memos from the NYSP TraCS staff stating that current reporting procedures should remain in effect until the system can be updated and further instructions are issued.

• Requests for Supporting Depositions:

Chairman Georges updated the TSC Members on the recent reports from agencies that Defendants are requesting Supporting Depositions through the Court, even though they had received one at the time of the stop and issuance of the UTT. He relayed that the NYSACOP TS Team researched the issue and received an opinion from the NYS TSRPs that officers should not create a second, additional Supporting Deposition. Rather, they should re-print and submit the original issued at the time of the stop. This will be legally sufficient and not create confusion that may happen with issuing a second document.

• Waymo Autonomous Vehicles Operating in NYS:

Chairman Georges discussed the Governor’s proposed roll-out of this program and how it has been halted for expansion outside of NYC.

• Advanced Crash Notification:

TSOL Geraci reported on his participation on a NHTSA SME Panel in Washington DC on February 4 and 5, 2026.

• NYSACOP License Plates:

Chairman Georges reported that the recent issue of a retired NYSACOP member having his NYS NYSACOP license plates rescinded was an isolated incident and was due to the lettering on the plates and nothing else. DMV is still providing NYSACOP plates as long as the proper procedure is followed.

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges did an overview of all traffic safety trainings currently posted.

• Other:

Chairman Georges announced that TSOL Geraci has been appointed to represent NYSACOP at the NYS Traffic Safety Boards Association meetings. Next meeting is March 9, 2026.

NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie reported on new case laws regarding impaired driving (People v Phillip Dondorfer and People v Agustin Morel). Links to the cases will be forwarded to the TSC members.

Deputy Chief Regina reported that on February 26, 2026, he will be traveling to Nashville, TN to complete his certification as a National Core Instructor for Below 100 training.

Director Tantalo reported:

1. DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder hosted a traffic safety roundtable in Monroe County.

2. The Monroe County Police Academy just instituted a new courtroom testimony module in the Basic class.

3. The Monroe County Executive to meet with reps from Vision Zero

4. Monroe County Community Traffic Safety Committee is doing very well resolving traffic safety issues received through its complaint line..

Follow-up Activities/Assignments:

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

Chairman Georges suggested having the TSRPs as guests at a future meeting and encouraged the TSC members to suggest any partners/guests they would like to have.

• Topics for “Intersections” , podcasts, etc., including guest contributors:

Chairman Georges reported that NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie will be writing the next Intersections article in the Chief’s Chronicle and encouraged the TSC members to consider topics for future articles.

• Other:

Nothing to report.

Next Meeting:

Motion to Adjourn:

1st:  Chief Dobson
2nd:  Chief Spaulding