Hands Across the Border is an annual police campaign with the stated goal of reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road. It’s been in effect for three decades, and it went into action again at the end of the summer.
It involved many different police departments — hence the name — which included:
- The Valdosta Police Department
- The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
- The Florida Highway Patrol
- The Georgia State Patrol
- The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office
The main tactic used during the enforcement was to set up impaired driving checkpoints. The respective departments did this on either side of the state line.
Why target Labor Day?
The Hands Across the Border Campaign happened right on the Labor Day weekend. There were a few reasons for this, but the main one is that many people see this as the last big summer holiday. There is a cultural expectation that people will have parties and social gatherings, and alcohol is often consumed. The fact that people get a day off from work may make them more likely to drink. In short, there is always a spike in impaired driving over the holiday weekend, so police know it is the perfect time to make more arrests.
What if you were arrested?
If you got pulled over or caught up at a checkpoint this year, you might be facing DUI charges. This is very serious and can cost you fines and jail time, a loss of your license and make it hard for you to work. It’s crucial for you to know about all of the legal options you have.