May 26, 2013
The Alabama Department of Public Safety says all available state troopers will be on duty over the long Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
DPS director Colonel W.M. Coppage said federal and state grants will provide additional funding to allow troopers to boost DUI enforcement activity in the Decatur/Huntsville and Quad cities area.
The department estimates that 16 people will die in traffic accidents during the 102-hour holiday travel period that begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 and ends at midnight Sunday, Nov. 30.
Last year, 17 people died on Alabama roads. Three of the fatalities were alcohol-related. Nine victims were not using seat belts.
Coppage said troopers and local law enforcement agencies will conduct sobriety checkpoints statewide and target motorists who fail to use seat belts, child restraint devices and violate Alabama's traffic laws.
