In an effort to keep the roads safe in Pearl River County, multiple law enforcement agencies will conduct enforcement periods during Memorial Day weekend.
A safety awareness initiative by the Mississippi Highway Patrol called “Drive to Survive” will commence May 26 at 6 p.m. and conclude May 29 at midnight, according to a release from the Mississippi Highway Patrol. During “Drive to Survive,” motorists are encouraged by MHP to make responsible decisions while traveling this weekend. MHP Captain Jonny Poulos said in the release that due to increased holiday traffic, all available troopers will be assigned to saturation patrols to maximize visibility and minimize motor vehicle accidents. Safety checkpoints will also be conducted to catch impaired drivers while promoting seat belt usage.
The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department will also be promoting the importance of wearing a seat belt over the weekend by participating in the nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign, from May 22 to June 4, Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said. During that time officers will ensure every passenger is wearing their seat belt, which is required by the MS Statute 63-2-1.
This statute states “when a motor vehicle is operated in forward motion on a public road, street or highway, every operator, front seat passenger and child under 7 years of age is required to wear a properly fastened seat belt.”
Also, every person transporting a child younger than 4 is required by MS Statute 63-7-301 to provide proper protection for the child by using a child passenger restraint device, such as a booster seat.
“So many people lose their lives needlessly because they do not wear their seat belts. This campaign is to gather attention to that and potentially save lives,” Tucker said.
The Picayune Police Department is also instituting an enforcement period for Memorial Day weekend starting May 26 through May 30, Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
During the weekend, Magri said numerous roadblocks will be established throughout the city combined with with extra manpower on the roads to crack down on impaired drivers.
“We encourage people to establish a designated driver if they plan on drinking this weekend,” Magri said.
Poplarville Police Chief Butch Raby said the Poplarville Police Department will not have an enforcement period during the Memorial Day weekend.