ATLANTA—Troopers from the Georgia State Patrol and officers with the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division are joining their law enforcement counterparts in neighboring states this week to encourage safe travel during the upcoming Labor Day holiday travel period. 

 

The initiative is part of the 19th Annual Hands Across the Border Program with safety education events planned throughout the week.

 

“This is an excellent way for law enforcement officers to show their support for safe travel, especially with one of the heavier-traveled holiday periods rapidly approaching,” Col. Bill Hitchens, DPS commissioner, said Monday. 

 

Events are planned each morning through Thursday at a Georgia Welcome Center in an effort to promote safe driving. 

 

“The focus of the events will be to encourage motorists to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drink and drive during their holiday travels,” Hitchens said.

 

Officers will distribute safety brochures and materials at the Georgia Welcome Center and then an hour later the same series of events will be repeated in the neighboring state.

 

The night before each Hands Across the Border event, law enforcement officers will be conducting sobriety checkpoints in the area as part of Operation Zero Tolerance, Georgia’s high visibility DUI enforcement program. 

 

“This is the 19th year the Georgia State Patrol has participated in Hands Across the Border,” Col. Hitchens said. “Each year these events serve as a valuable resource for troopers, police officers and sheriffs’ deputies to exchange safety ideas while meeting motorists one-on-one, all with a goal of saving lives.”