Police Plan to Patrol Virginia Roads Over Thanksgiving Holiday

It's called Operation C.A.R.E., Combined Accident Reduction Effort, but it's also because the officers do care enough to give up the holiday weekend with their families to keep you safe on the roads.

"This is strictly on a volunteer basis. The officers are not assigned to do it, but they volunteer. They step up," says Capt. Kelly Walker of the Waynesboro Police Department.

With many people traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday will be the Commonwealth's busiest travel day of the year.

"We'll see an influx of traffic into the city. You know visitors and also people that are just getting off the interstate to get a bite to eat," says Walker.

Along with all those extra drivers, extra officers are needed, even if it's only to be seen.

"It's important to have our presence and to be visible to let the citizens know that the state police are patrolling," says Sgt. Mike Rossetti of the Virginia State Police.

It doesn't matter if you're on the interstate or county roads, you'll likely be covered. State police say 75 percent of their officers will be on the road this holiday weekend. The Augusta County Sheriff's Office is planning a DUI checkpoint, and over in Waynesboro, extra police officers will be on hand on select patrols looking for speeders reckless drivers and drunk drivers.

"We want to ensure that the motorists get where there going and avoid distractions, to drive alcohol and drug free and to wear their safety belt," says Rossetti.

Source;  http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/Police_Plan_to_Patrol_Virginia_Roads_Over_Thanksgiving_Holiday_134358933.html