ROANOKE (WSLS10) - Virginia law enforcement officers are on the lookout this holiday for drunk drivers. The state's Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security reports 40 percent of deadly crashes in the U.S. over Labor Day weekend involve DUI's. WSLS 10 found out local area law enforcement officers are ramping up patrols in an effort to protect travelers.
A grant through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is helped put more Roanoke City Police officers on patrol this Labor Day. Officers hope their presence on the road is enough to prevent traffic accidents.
After a long holiday weekend, many drivers are hitting the road home. However, for some wearing the badge their day's just begun.
"We're out here and we're looking for any type of enforcement that needs to be taken whether it be DUI's to the seat belts, stop signs, you name it," said Sgt. Kenneth Sauls, with Roanoke City Police.
Over the four day holiday, Roanoke and Virginia State Police and the Bedford County Sheriff's Office increased patrols.
"Monday, we even have a canine out to not only look for drivers intoxicated on alcohol but also drivers intoxicated on drugs," commented Deputy Joseph Reiner, with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.
Reiner told us ramping up patrols have been more successful than sobriety check points because now, most people can learn of where a check point is happening thanks to social media.
According to VSP, last year over the Labor Day weekend, there were 16 traffic deaths in the commonwealth and deputies investigated 617 total crashes.
"Holiday's kind of tend to force people to drink more," commented Reiner. "They're with their friends, they're with their family and it increases the chance that they are probably going to partake in more than they normally would."
In an effort to reduce accidents and deaths, law enforcement officers are out looking for seat belt violations, speeders and of course, drunk drivers.
State Police told us they're participating in the annual Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort program otherwise known as ‘CARE'. This program focuses on traffic accident prevention, particularly during the holidays.
Last year, VSP stopped more than 11,000 speeders, 3,100 reckless drivers and cited 933 seat belt violations.
Law enforcement officers will be out Monday night as holiday travelers will be back on the road -- it's a message to use caution.