MHP to begin Labor Day Enforcement period

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is gearing up for its annual Labor Day enforcement period.

In a news release, the agency announced its Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E) for the weekend. The operation will begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday and conclude at midnight Monday. All available troopers will be out on saturation patrols combatting speeding and distracted driving statewide during the enforcement period.

MHP will also run safety checkpoints throughout the period.

“Throughout the holiday period, we’re just going to be out like we normally do,” said MHP Troop G Public Information Officer Derrick Beckom. “We’re not fullstaffed, but it’s kind of Monday through Friday, just kind of have all hands on deck and everybody will be out patrolling and enforcing the rules of the road.”

He said that although troopers would be taking precautions, he didn’t believe that COVID-19 would have much of an effect on the enforcement period.

“That’s really not going to effect how we get out and work,” Beckom said. “A lot of times it’s not so much writing the citations as just having a small presence, as well. That’s the big thing, that we’re pres

ent out there, visible on the highways. That kind of deters the speeding.”

Beckom said he was unsure of what effect the novel coronavirus could have on MHP’S Labor Day enforcement numbers this year.

“People are still mindful of what’s going on, so it could be less, or could be about the same, but either way, we’re going to be there,” Beckom said. “We haven’t been able to be home through this, so from start to finish we’re going to be out doing everything possible not only to keep ourselves safe, but also to keep the public safe.”

During last year’s Labor Day enforcement period, MHP responded to 131 crashes, including three fatalities. Troopers also made 216 DUI arrests statewide.