WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: MHP troopers are taking back our highways

MHP troopers are taking back our highways

By Julie Straw - bio | email

Jackson, MS (WLBT) - You will want to be on your best behavior while driving on the highways this week.  Extra troopers are on patrol and they are not letting anything slide. 

Since midnight Friday troopers have written more than 1,600 tickets across the state.  Most of them have been considered hazardous like drivers running red lights and speeding.  24 people have been busted for drunk driving.  It's all part of a week long traffic blitz called "Take Back Our Highways."

"We're high visibily, low tolerance, we're checking for everything.  We are even setting up road blocks," said MHP Sgt. James Walker.  He is one of many members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol out taking back our highways.  The week long crack down is scheduled until midnight Friday, July 31st.

Usually the program is reserved for holiday weekends, but the stormy weather on sunday is making this as good a time as any for a strong MHP presence on the roadways.

"Since the rain started this morning we've been having accidents all over Mississippi, but its not no major accidents.  People just not paying attention to what they're doing. Too fast for the conditions, the road is wet and we ask people to slow down and give yourself a little more time and increase you following distance," said Walker.

Since the program began in 2007, Alabama and Tennessee have always participated along with Mississippi.  for the first time Georgia and Florida are following suit.

"We got a federal grant to bring some of the troopers back to give up some of their days off and come back and actually help us with doing this program," said Walker.

Remember, the Move Over Law is in affect.  If you see an MHP cruiser or another emergency vehicle on the shoulder of the road move over into a farther lane.  If not you can face a $250 fine.

The first day of the crack down 965 hazardous tickets were written and 539 non hazardous were written.  24 DUI, 1 drug arrest, 1 felony arrest, 79 seat belt violations, 17 child restraint violations and 11 motorists were assisted.  26 accidents occured statewide with four injuries and no fatalities.