revived for Labor Day weekend

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Alabama law enforcement agencies hope to continue their success with the "Click it or Ticket" campaign.

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, Alabama State Troopers, sheriff’s and police departments will be out targeting enforcement of Alabama’s safety belt and child restraint laws during patrols and at checkpoints.

Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport said the Brundidge Police Department will be participating in the "Click it or Ticket" campaign "100 percent."

"The last time we did this it made a big difference," Davenport said. "State statistics show it is making a difference and more people are wearing safety belts than even have."

Davenport said there will be "no exceptions" if someone is stopped and is not wearing a safety belt.

The locations of the road blocks that will be set up by the Brundidge Police Department are: Business 231 from 2-6 p.m. aug. 28; S.A. Graham Blvd. from 3-7 p.m. Aug. 30; Tennille Road from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sept. 1 and Alabama 93 from 4-8 p.m. Sept 2.

Officers with the Troy Police Department will set up checkpoints as part of the "Click it or Ticket" campaign.

"During the DUI checkpoint, the TPD will also focus its efforts on the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, also known as STEP," Troy Police Chief Anthony Everage said.

STEP, like "Click it or Ticket," is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Southeast Alabama Medical Center-Highway Safety Office.

"Officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers, checking drivers licenses, liability insurance coverage and seatbelt use," Everage said.

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said his deputies will set up checkpoints Friday, Saturday and Monday in participation with the "Click it or Ticket" safety belt enforcement campaign.

"It’s not just a matter of writing tickets," Thomas said of the effort. "We want to remind people that seat belts save lives and that life could be a loved one."

He said that lesson is especially important during holidays when traffic is heavier and the chance of accidents is higher.

Everage echoed that sentiment by asking drivers to "be patient, considerate and have a safe and happy holiday."

The Labor Day holiday is the last major travel period of the summer travel season and state Troopers anticipate heavy trafic. They will concentrate patrols on vacation and beach routes, including interstate highways, U.S. 231 and U.S. 331 south of Montgomery Aerial speed enforcement also is planned as part of Troopers’ speed limit enforcement activity.