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State Police Will Be Out In Force In Fairfield County For Labor Day Weekend

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Connecticut state troopers want to remind motorists to expect heavy traffic and exercise caution while driving over the Labor Day weekend.

Kelly Grant

Kelly Grant

Photo Credit: Jay Polansky

Police advise drivers to allow extra time to reach their destination; not to text and drive; set GPS destinations prior to traveling; and use a hands-free device when talking on their cellphone while operating a vehicle. 

Over 35 million drivers are expected to travel across the United States this weekend, with the vast majority of them traveling by car, according to state police spokeswoman Kelly Grant. Troopers will be concentrating their enforcement efforts on drunken driving, speeding, seat belt violations and distracted driving during the entire Labor Day weekend. These dangerous driving behaviors claim lives every year. 

Troopers will use both traditional and nontraditional state police vehicles on the roads searching for reckless and intoxicated drivers. Troopers will staff sobriety checkpoints, increase roving patrols and use the state police Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit. 

Enforcement efforts by state troopers will continue into the next week as more than half a million children continue to return to school across Connecticut, with many of those children typically walking or riding the bus to school. Troopers remind all drivers to be especially vigilant watching for pedestrians during the before- and after-school hours. 

The afternoon hours are particularly dangerous for walking children – over the last decade nationally, nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 p.m. Under state law, it is mandatory that drivers stop for school buses that have their flashing red warning lights activated, whether they are approaching or following the school bus. Failure to obey this law not only puts our children at great risk, but it carries a hefty penalty for drivers. 

Fines for passing a school bus that has its flashing red warning lights activated start at $465 for a first offense. A final reminder to all drivers: anyone who consumes alcohol should never get behind the wheel; establish a designated driver before your holiday weekend activities begin. 

If you see a suspected drunk or hazardous driver, call 911, as this is a true emergency.

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