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Hands Across Border targets drunk drivers

Hands Across Border targets drunk drivers

Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:06 pm

  The Memorial Day weekend has historically been accompanied by increased traffic and, unfortunately, increases in serious traffic crashes — many of which have been alcohol-related.

This year, local authorities are working to ensure the safety of the citizens of Obion County by participating in Hands Across the Border, a multi-jurisdictional enforcement campaign between Tennessee and the surrounding states.

Officers from the Union City Police Department, Obion County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Kentucky State Police and volunteers from additional West Tennessee law enforcement agencies will be teaming up to prevent drunk driving this Memorial Day weekend.

Joint enforcement activities will begin Saturday at 10 p.m. and end at midnight. Local activities will include sobriety checkpoints and DUI saturations.

During the effort, officers will concentrate their enforcement efforts on removing impaired drivers from the roadways. However, since non-compliance with the safety belt and child restraint laws place people in danger, these laws will be vigorously enforced as well, according to Union City police.

The program is funded by a traffic enforcement grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office.
Published in The Messenger 5.21.09