Law enforcement out in force during Thanksgiving

By By William F. West / community editor
Nov. 28, 2002
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is issuing its familiar holiday warning to motorists stay sober, obey speed limits and wear seat belts.
Staff Sgt. Ronnie Carter said troopers will be out in full force in East Mississippi, including Interstates 20 and 59.
Carter said federal grants have also made it possible to put a special detail on the road to look for drivers who fail to buckle up.
Carter said 1,200 citations were issued over the Thanksgiving holiday last year in East Mississippi  including eight for driving under the influence. He said one person was killed in the Meridian area last Thanksgiving and four others were killed in other parts of the state.
In Alabama, Department of Public Safety officials estimate as many as 17 people could be killed in traffic accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday period. Spokesman Dorris Teague said 10 died last year on Alabama roads.
Teague said Alabama will field a formidable number of troopers.
Closer to home, Maj. Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department said motorists can expect to see checkpoints on county roads Saturday from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Deputies set up a sobriety checkpoints Tuesday on Allen Swamp Road and Pine Springs Road, areas they say have higher numbers of drunk drivers and fatal wrecks.
Calhoun said that even with seven extra officers working the scene the department had all it could handle making arrests on traffic charges and old warrants.