State troopers plan to increase weekend patrols
By Erin Elaine Mosely
Montgomery Advertiser
If you see flashing blue lights in your rearview mirror this weekend, you're probably not alone.
Officials with the Alabama Department of Public Safety said they plan to step up their patrols in an effort to curb fatalities.
"We are stepping up speed enforcement, impaired driving enforcement and we want motorists to be aware of seatbelt enforcement also," said Trooper John Reese, a spokesman for DPS. "We know spring break is a time when there are going to be many people on the roads. There's going to be a lot of drunk driving."
Roughly 400 state troopers will spread out in Alabama's 67 counties. In addition to looking for drunken drivers, Reese said his department is concerned about people being distracted when they drive.
He asked that people limit cell phone use to emergencies or pull to the side of the road to talk.
"We want people to have their cell phones," he said. "We want them to use it. We want them to call us if they see anyone driving erratically or driving drunk."
Drivers can call (star)HP on their cell phones to report accidents or erratic driving.
Reese also reminded motorists of the state's "move over" law, which requires drivers to switch to the next lane when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is pulled over to the side of the road.
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