Labor Day Weekend is enjoyed as a three-day holiday by most people across the United States. However, for law enforcement, it is a weekend of greatly increased drunk driving arrests and motor vehicle accidents, injuries and fatalities. In Georgia, State Patrol and local police and sheriff’s deputies cooperate in Hands Across the Border (HATB), a highway safety awareness campaign. Georgia law enforcement is also joined by partners is bordering states: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
What is Hands Across the Border?
Hands Across the Border is a Zero Tolerance approach to impaired driving. For six days prior to the Labor Day holiday weekend, participating law enforcement hand out seatbelt, child safety seat and impaired driving brochures to motorists who go to Visitors Centers in the states or who are stopped at road checks.
HATB is a serious of events at the Welcome Centers nearest each state border.
The first event begins with law enforcement officers from each state meeting at the Georgia Welcome Center. They then motorcade to the adjoining state’s welcome center as the program continues. At each welcome center, the two law enforcement officers from either side of the state line shake hands, as a ceremonial pledge of cooperation to work together to reduce fatalities and serious injuries during the holiday.
The event also serves as a kick off to the Labor Day “Click It or Ticket” mobilization.
Visit the facebook page of Hands Across the Border for more information.
Contact Us
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident on Labor Day weekend or another time that was caused by the negligent behavior of another driver, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us today to receive a free consultation during which you can learn more about your legal rights and options.