PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WTXL)-- Florida, Alabama and Georgia Highway Patrols joined forces this weekend to combat drunk and impaired driving.
"Whatever car you're driving if its a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, truck or motor vehicle, if we catch you driving drunk we will arrest you," said Major Warren Fast, Trooper Commander. "No excuses, no exceptions."
During last year's Memorial Day weekend, 34 lives were lost in traffic accidents across the state. Ten of those were linked to alcohol. In order to reduce that number, there are 10-20% more officers on the roadways this weekend. Agencies also conducted sobriety checkpoints and worked with undercover officers.
"This is a very deadly time of year and the US 231 corridor will be very active with people coming to our beaches in PC," said Jackson County Sheriff Louis Roberts. "We will be very strict. We have to be. We have a lot to do and a short period of time to do it and we want to make sure that everybody comes home safe."
Agencies are focusing on Highway 90 and corridor 231. Troopers encourage drivers to stay alert, be smart and drive defensively this holiday.
