In 1988 officers from patrol division were assigned to assist the NYS Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Safety Inspectors with commercial vehicle inspections in the city. Shortly thereafter these officers were permanently assigned to the traffic needs of the city. With 5 state highways and 1 interstate merging in the city it was becoming necessary to train and assign officers to deal with these issues on a full time basis. Several officers were trained by the U.S. Department of Transportation as commercial vehicle inspectors to supplement the work being done by NYS DOT. The TSU has since increased in size and is currently under the supervision of Sgt Andrew Prestigiacomo.
Since 1999 the New State York Department of Motor Vehicles and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee has designated the Saratoga Springs Police Department the lead law enforcement agency in Saratoga County for traffic enforcement matters. The city department has become involved in coordinated enforcement efforts with all the other law enforcement agencies in Saratoga County thru the Saratoga County Traffic Safety Committee. In addition to the enforcement duties of law enforcement the committee directs local traffic safety grant programs, education and training programs, and promotes cooperation for all the law enforcement agencies in Saratoga County.