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Published on Saturday, August 28, 2004
in the GULF1, Pensacola
PENSACOLA FL - The Florida Highway Patrol is joining other law enforcement agencies from Florida and Southern (Alabama/Georgia) today to work together this Labor Day weekend to save lives on our roads. Today's 13th annual Hands Across the Border event focuses attention on safety belt and child safety seat use and impaired driving. Law enforcement agencies from both states will conduct public awareness activities and special enforcement operations as part of the campaign to save lives.
Labor Day weekend is among the deadliest for drivers - with 22 people killed on Florida roads last year. "Our goal today is simple: we want to save lives. Law enforcement agencies from Florida, Georgia and Alabama are joining forces to encourage a11 drivers to buckle up and drive sober during this Labor Day weekend."
Hands Across the Border was created when safety advocates from across the southeast met to draw attention to safety belt and child safety seat usage. In 1992, these groups came together and created the first Hands Across the Border event in the Jacksonville, Florida and Valdosta, Georgia areas. 1n 1993, the state of Alabama joined the efforts. More than 17 states nationwide now participate in the annual Hands Across the Border events, and the campaign has been expanded to include impaired driving enforcement activities.
Florida's safety belt laws are secondary enforcement, which means the driver must be pulled over for another violation before being issued a safety belt citation. Eighteen states plus Puerto Rico now have primary enforcement laws, including Alabama and Georgia.