Hands Across the Border to Encourage Safe Travel

August 25, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(ATLANTA)—The Georgia State Patrol will join with their law enforcement counterparts in neighboring states next week to encourage safe travel during the upcoming Labor Day holiday travel period.  For the 14th year, State Troopers will join other law enforcement officers for “Hands Across the Border” with safety education events planned throughout the week.

“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,” Colonel Bill Hitchens, Georgia State Patrol Commander said Monday.  Events are planned each morning during the week of August 29 in an effort to promote safe driving.   “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,” he said.

Following a news conference each morning, officers will distribute safety brochures and materials at the Welcome Center in Georgia.  The same series of events will then be repeated in the neighboring states.

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

“This is the 14th year the Georgia State Patrol has participated in ‘Hands Across the Border’,” Colonel Hitchens said.  “Each year these events are a valuable resource for troopers, police officers and sheriffs’ deputies to exchange safety ideas, all with a goal in mind of saving lives.”

The schedule for “Hands Across the Border” is:

Monday, August 29 – I-185 in Columbus and I-95 in Savannah
Tuesday, August 30 – I-20 in Augusta
Wednesday, August 31 – U.S. 319 in Tallahassee/Thomasville and U.S. 441 at the Georgia/North Carolina Line
Thursday, September 1 – I-75 in Lake Park and I-75 at the Tennessee Welcome Center
Friday, September 2 – I-95 at Florida Welcome Center and I-20 at the Alabama State Line

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For more information, contact the Public Information Office at (404) 624-7597