Georgia State Patrol Will Be Out in Force Over Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend -- one of the heaviest travel periods of the year – has the Georgia State Patrol gearing up to catch impaired drivers.

This year, the holiday period begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, and ends at midnight on Labor Day, Sept. 1.

Troopers will team up with law enforcement officials from across the state for Operation Zero Tolerance, Georgia’s high visibility enforcement campaign that targets impaired drivers, along with those not wearing seat belts and speeding.

“Troopers will be out actively looking for impaired and unsafe drivers this holiday weekend,” said Colonel Mark W. McDonough, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “Troopers will be on concentrated and high visibility patrols watching for those who are driving impaired or distracted, not wearing seat belts, and other traffic violations that could potentially cause a traffic crash.”

Over the 2013 Labor Day weekend, the Georgia State Patrol investigated 650 traffic crashes that resulted in 10 deaths and 338 injuries. In addition, troopers arrested 283 people for driving under the influence while issuing 8,604 citations and 15,208 warnings.

Expect to see roadchecks across the state, says McDonough, who urged travelers to choose a designated driver before celebrating.