Local law enforcement agencies will be out in full force during the Holiday periods in an effort to reduce accidents and fatalities along state highways and roads.
“We are doing extra check points and we’ll have more officers on patrol,” said Lt. Fremon Edwards with the Sylacauga Police Department. “Even some of our investigators try to help us do extra patrols during the holidays.”
Pell City Police Chief Greg Turley echoed Edwards’ warning, if you drink, don’t drive.
“Enjoy the Holidays at home,” Turley said. “Don’t take it on the road.”
Turley said if you are celebrating Christmas or the New Years away from home have a designated driver who is not drinking alcohol.
Turley said during the Christmas Holiday period, the Pell City Police Department will focus its attention in the business and residential areas for thefts, but will be out during the New Year’s Day Holiday period, looking for unsafe and DUI drivers.
“We have an overtime grant,” he said.
Turley said the Pell City Police Department will also set up safety check points during the holiday period.
“We have an overtime grant,” Turley said.
Talladega City Police Chief Alan Watson said they are waiting for Click it or Ticket grant money from the state, which will determine the type traffic safety checks the police department will do during the Christmas and New Year’s Day Holiday season.
“It will depend on the Click it or Ticket money,” Watson said. “But, we’ll have extra patrols regardless.”
Watson said if people drink, they need to stay away from behind the steering wheel.
He said the Talladega City Police Department will increase patrols targeting DUI and unsafe drivers during the Christmas and New Years Holiday periods.
Alabama State Troopers will also be out in full-force during both the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy said traffic safety agencies throughout Alabama will aggressively work to curtail impaired driving during the holidays.
“If holiday celebrations include alcohol, I strongly advocate designating a non-drinking driver, taking advantage of transportation options available in your area, or making other plans,” Murphy said.
He said Troopers will utilize a fleet of BAT mobiles, nine trucks equipped with breath alcohol testing equipment at checkpoints.
He also said the use of seat belts and child restraints is often the best defense in the event of an alcohol-related crash.
Murphy said trooper-reported traffic deaths in Alabama have declined for three consecutive years.
He said year-to-date trooper-reported traffic fatalities reflect 103 fewer people killed, when compared to the same period in 2008 (510 verses 613).
The 78-hour Christmas travel period begins at 6 p.m., Thursday, and ends at midnight Sunday, Dec. 27.
In 2008, eight people, including one pedestrian and one motorcyclist, died in traffic crashes on Alabama roadways during the 102-hour Christmas period. Alcohol was a factor in at least three of the deaths, and four of the six vehicle occupants killed were not using seat belts.
The 78-hour New Year’s travel period extends from 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31, through
i do have proof of my accusation but who you going to tell because they cover for each other. One was on TV the other night singing and was drunk. My daughter & friends seen one coming out of a gas station buying beer on a sunday so what do you do. what i'm saying is that they need to start cleaning up their officers and give them tickets or haul them to jail like they do everyone else and show them how much it cost to pay for all of that. I know some of the officers well here in sylacauga and we do have some good apples as charles01 calls it but i know of 2 that should not be there. this one officer came after my nephew when he was off duty and was drunk my nephew did ask for help from on duty officers but of course they didnt arrest him they drove him home but if it would have been my nephew that was drunk they would of got him for a DUI.plus the off duty officer had small kids in the vehicle with him. So i do know my facts. If you mess with them then they will start pulling you over for stupid stuff and cause you more trouble. I understand that officer do see a lot on the streets but dont mean we the citizen should walk around on pins and needle for them. that is the life style they choice...
I wonder if the driver of what appears to be a Ford SUV knows that while the ticket dispenser(policy enforcer) is at the driver's window asking for fill in the blank information to write in for the accusation, that there is another ticket dispenser with his right hand on ready next to that weapon on his belt? What do these guys say to someone these days when it takes everything a man can earn just to stay on the road in a car, to have these little guys come up from behind and do what is pictured above? Most folks are so intimidated by the show of power (black uniform, gun in plain site, bullets, handcuffs, and radio for backup in case the vicim does not cooperate) that they will accually thank the officer for giving them a ticket. Police pulling folks over and handing out tickets has never caused folks to slow down or stop drinking and driving. I felt safer in the 70's and 80' with the beer drinkers on the road than with these guys on the road. This is not protect and serve but mere revenue generation. With all the breaking and entering and armed robbery that I read about in this paper ,where do these guys get the time to hold up some one on the side of the road in the first place?"
It's time you get some help dude. Your paranoid, schizophrenic behavior is not healthy. A little confession might just be the thing you need. Just how many times have you been arrested? And just so you know a traffic ticket is a "arrest". Your hatred of the police just didn't spring out of the woodwork, (which is personally a place I think you need to crawl back into) So come on Darryll, inquiring minds want to know! Why are you so afraid of the police?
It takes a lot of apples to make a pie, and even being so careful, there is a chance that one small piece of bad apple might make it into that pie. Now here's the difference between me and you. I'm gonna get rid of the bad piece, and enjoy the rest of the pie. You, on the other hand will throw the whole pie away, and sit back and complain that you have no pie to eat.
And as simple as that analogy is, I am quite confident that it will go right over your head.
Oh, by the way, my son in law is in training to become a certified police officer, so I do have a dog in the hunt!!!!
"the police do not act on their own they have job to do like everybody else".I agree that they have a job to do but do it equal. When a off duty officer is driving drunk arrest him for DUI dont let him go because he could kill someone like any other citizen could.So your comment said they do not act on their own is a lie because the do let who they want go. Officers do let other officers break the law and nothing is said or reported. They pay no fine or anything else. I seen couple of off duty officers drunk at public place having dinner but they wasnt worry about getting behind the wheel and getting a DUI. I know another officer hitting his wife but you know they can get away with it all. So you tell me how can they do that and nothing be done about it????
At the same time, if you are still a licensed police officer, would you please arrest Skip Smithwick? I understand his family is decorating his home in orange this season; they hope this will get him ready for the jump-suit he will more than likely be wearing next year.
I tune into Larry's show from time to time; since I do not live in the immediate area, I watch it over the Internet. One of the funniest things he ever said was, if Smithwick wanted, he would be glad to tell him exactly what he could and could not take when he is put into prison.
Keep it up Mr. Barton!
Sincerely,
Bosley Alderman
I met Sunday School Teacher Sam Wright in Piggly Wiggly last night. He would not even acknowledge that we were even standing next to him. He spoke to no one. If it had started raining he would have drowned with his nostrils pointing skyward. On the other hand, I met Mr. Barton, my family and I received a warm greeting. So before any one shoots down Mr Barton's character talk with Sam and compare them. Sam will litigate you, and Larry will talk. I choose Larry.
Thank you, Merry Christmas, and God Bless