FHP plans multistate driving crackdown for holiday weekend

As people get ready to load the family into the car for a long Labor Day holiday, state officials are planning a crackdown on speeders. The Florida Highway Patrol is part of not only a state, but national enforcement effort.

Every day officers stop drivers who are breaking the law and sometimes encounter people with tempers.

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Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Ryan Martina said he understands emotions are high during each traffic stop, but the goal is to keep people safe on Florida's roads.

"Its all about safety," said Martina. "Its not about revenue or anything like that."

From Jacksonville to Santa Monica, California, Labor Day weekend kicks off a brand new multistate initiative on Interstate 10 to keep motorists safe.

"All of our troopers that align with the corridor for I-10, they're going to be looking for aggressive drivers, DUIs, speeding," FHP Capt. Nancy Rasmussen said.

Traffic along Florida's interstates remain relatively low, but coming up this weekend for Labor Day, more drivers are expected, so FHP says they'll be out to keep them safe.

"I think people are starting to realize that with the increase of traffic along the roadways, that they're slowing down a little bit," Rasmussen said.

Across Florida, the number of fatal accidents during summer holiday weekends are down from 2012, even though overall accidents are up.

"Slow down, watch the speed limits, stop for stop signs, wear your seat belt, don't drink and drive and don't text and drive," Martina said.

The increased patrol efforts start on Friday.

This is the first time the seven states along I-10 have worked together to have a special enforcement weekend for a holiday.