Troopers to increase patrols over Memorial Day

The Missouri Highway Patrol will be out in force during the Memorial Day holiday with every available trooper on the road to traffic laws and assist motorists.

From 6 p.m. Friday, May 27, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 30, the patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) to focus on hazardous moving violations, speed violations and impaired drivers.

During last year’s Memorial Day weekend, 10 people died and 442 were injured in 1,017 traffic crashes.

The Memorial Day weekend is also an unofficial start to the boating season so the marine division of the patrol plans to be out in force on state waterways.

There were 12 boating crashes, three injuries and one person who drowned during last year’s Memorial Day weekend. Troopers also made 57 driving while intoxicated and eight boating while intoxicated arrests.