Delaware patrols increase for holiday weekend

Fewer families are expected to hit the roads this Labor Day weekend but the statewide projection isn't stopping law enforcement officials from stepping up holiday patrols on state roadways. According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, nearly 97,000 Delawareans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the last weekend of summer, marking a 15% decrease from Labor Day travel in 2008.

AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Cathi Rossi attributes the lower projections to a higher than expected boost in Labor Day travel last year in response to falling gas prices. In addition, this year's holiday falls one week later on the calendar than last year, when many school years are already underway. "Traditionally, this weekend is the last summer hurrah, but this year is different," Rossi says, "Families with school-aged children are very much already in back-to-school mode so more people will stay home this year."

Despite the low traveler turnout expected on the road, Delaware police units plan to be in full force conducting three sobriety checkpoints and 255 DUI saturation patrols throughout the state this weekend under the Drunk Driving: Over the Limit, Under Arrest campaign.

A total of 57 individuals in Delaware have been already been arrested throughout the first two weeks of this national DUI crackdown.

In addition to sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols set up throughout the state, law enforcement officials will be conducting increased enforcement for the state's speed, aggressive driving and seat belt laws.

This weekend's sobriety checkpoint enforcement kicks off on Friday in Newport, Smyrna and Fenwick Island.

For more information on the state's DUI prevention campaign, log onto www.ohs.delaware.gov