Local law enforcement officials will flood the roads during the Labor Day weekend, looking for DUI and other unsafe drivers.

“If they are going to drink, they need to stay home or find someone to drive them,” said Sylacauga Police Chief Louis Zook.

Sylacauga is one of many local agencies joining Alabama state troopers in the “Task Force Zero” campaign, targeting drunk drivers.

Zook said the campaign actually started Aug. 21, but law enforcement officials will continue the DUI and Click it or Ticket campaign through the last major holiday period of the summer travel season.

Col. J. Christopher Murphy, the Alabama Department of Public Safety director, said all available troopers are on duty through the holiday period to ensure the safety of motorists.

“Troopers have zero tolerance for impaired drivers,” Murphy said. “At checkpoints and on patrol, we will search out those who commit the crime of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and place them under arrest.”

Zook said the Sylacauga Police Department will have specific officers who will only focus on DUI and unsafe drivers.

“We’ll be conducting safety checkpoints throughout the community day and night,” Zook said.

Talladega City Police also planned to work the roads during the Labor Day holiday weekend, looking for unsafe and DUI drivers.

“We will be out in full force,” said Talladega City Police Chief Alan Watson, adding that there are many agencies thorough Talladega County and in surrounding counties participating in the statewide “Task Force Zero” campaign.

“There are a lot more reasons not to drink and drive than to drink and drive,” Watson said.

He said not only can drinking and driving have deadly consequences, but can also cost a person their driving privileges.

It is also costly for those charged with DUI. DUI drivers face fines and court costs.

“A DUI can ruin your chances for a good job,” Watson added.

He said it doesn’t take much alcohol to violate DUI laws.

“It’s just best that if you drink, don’t drive,” Watson said.

The Pell City Police Department will also beef up patrols during the Labor Day weekend.

“We’ll average three officers per day, 12-hour shifts, during the Labor Day weekend,” said Pell City Police Lt. Danny Holmes. “That’s in addition to our regular patrols.”

He said the additional officers are paid for with state grant money the police department receives.

“These are our most aggressive police officers,” Holmes said of the officers assigned the extra holiday weekend duty. “If you are speeding don’t come through here, or you will be caught.”

Holmes said extra patrol officers will work from Friday to about midnight Monday, specifically looking for DUI and unsafe drivers. He said officers will make a special effort to check requirements under state law like insurance, seatbelts and other safety items required on vehicles.

“They will target all types of safety violations,” Holmes said, adding that they may also have safety checkpoints throughout the city.

Murphy said trooper teams will incorporate BAT Mobiles at selected multi-agency checkpoints. BAT Mobiles are specially equipped vehicles with breath-testing equipment, allowing on-scene processing of impaired drivers.

He said troopers also plan to target violations that contribute to traffic crashes, including speeding, following too closely, improper passing and failure to signal.

The official 78-hour Labor Day travel period begins at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, and ends at midnight on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.

Last year during the 78-hour Labor Day holiday period, eight people - six vehicles and two pedestrians - died in traffic accidents across Alabama. At least two of the crash victims died as the result of alcohol-related crashes, and four of the six vehicle occupants were not using safety restraints.