Extra Troopers on Wyoming Highways Over Labor Day Weekend

If you’re going to be on the road this weekend, you might want to be sure to obey all traffic laws. The Wyoming Highway Patrol has increased manpower and patrols through the Labor Day Holiday weekend. Officials say they will be targeting drunk drivers, aggressive drivers and seat belt violators in addition to enforcing other traffic laws and assisting motorists.

All Troopers will be required to work the holiday weekend and extra Troopers will be working overtime either prior to or after their regularly scheduled shift. The monies for the overtime worked by the extra Troopers have been secured by a Federal grant. The holiday enforcement period began on August 27th and will end at midnight on Tuesday, September 6th.

In 2010 Wyoming Troopers issued 2,585 speeding tickets, 287 seat belt tickets and arrested 36 impaired drivers over the Labor Day Holiday. But Sergeant Stephen Townsend says the extra forces are not about increasing the number of citations issued. He claims it is about making sure everyone has a safe weekend, reducing injuries and saving lives. Last year Troopers investigated one fatal crash with two fatalities in the Elk Mountain area.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is also asking the public to help make the weekend safer by reporting drunk or unsafe drivers by calling the REDDI hotline at 1-800-442-9090. Motorists who need assistance may dial “#HELP” from their cell phone.