For many, the Labor Day holiday weekend marks the conclusion of summer and beginning of the football seasons in Alabama. wonderful State of Alabama.
Whether you plan to cool off from the scorching heat of the lake or at the beach and visiting relatives and friends or celebrating a college start, safety should be an important topic for everyone this weekend.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor said, “We are aware that this is a very exciting weekend, and many are expected to travel or enjoy the scenic waters of the state. With a predicted high number of vehicles on our waterways and roads We want to remind that everyone should be prepared, give your time to reach your destination, and practice considerate conduct towards other drivers and boaters. A bit of courtesy will go a long way in the event of driving in a crowded road or operating a boat in a congested region. The ALEA’s strategy for success this year is to provide education opportunities, provide high-visibility information and offer excellent service and also security, making sure everyone gets home safely and in the company of loved family members .”
This year this year’s official travel time starts with 12:01 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1. It will close at midnight on the Monday of Sept. 4. The Agency is getting ready for the four-day holiday by disseminating a range of useful safety reminders on social media, and hosting media days in six locations throughout the state before the official travel time. The ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division has already started the nationwide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which began on Wednesday, August. 16 and continues until the Monday of September. 4. The initiative is a national one that provides high-visibility enforcement and many checkpoints for drivers’ licenses across the state. To go one step higher this time, ALEA has joined forces with law enforcement counterparts across the southeast region to take part at the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “No drunk driving Friday” to target impaired driving.
“We would like everyone to know that our primary goal is to ensure the safety of our citizens by enforcing laws of the state,” said Director of the ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Jon Archer. “The Drive Sober and No DUI Friday campaign is an effort to make clear that driving drunk is illegal and is a reckless choice that can drastically alter or even kill someone within the moment of. We’re urging everyone to be mindful and be aware, particularly those who consume alcohol. We need your assistance in protecting the communities we live in.” Alongside the crowded games and holidays ALEA Troopers are watching closely for Idalia, the hurricane. Idalia and are prepared for evacuationes that might need to seek shelter in Alabama. “The storm is expected to strike Florida’s Big Bend of Florida on Wednesday. However, we’re estimating that those who leave to Alabama could be on roads heading back home on the long holiday weekend. There will be the available Troopers on duty throughout the week, and also during the Labor Day holiday to assist our citizens and travelers across the state from Florida,” said ALEA Highway Patrol Chief Will Wright.
As the hurricane Idalia is predicted to move towards our East, the outlook appears to be clear for a majority of Alabama over the holiday weekend, during which beach-goers and boaters can look forward to stunning weather conditions and a lower likelihood of strong rip currents in Alabama’s Gulf coast. However the Agency wants to remind residents and tourists that even a minor change in weather or a massive storm, can alter the forecast for rip currents. We urge anyone who visits the beach to keep track of the weather conditions and surf forecasts daily from a reliable source.
For the second time, beachgoers can be sure to spot an Agency helicopter fly over the beach during the bustling Labor Day weekend. In 2022, the The ALEA’s Aviation Unit partnered with first responders in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to provide a rescue swimmer Detail during the three holidays during the summer months: Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. For these specific times the responders are dispatched by aircrafts to assist swimmers who are in need of assistance. This weekend is the time when the Agency will again use an aircraft for beach safety flights as well as patrol for areas in which lifeguards aren’t present.
All Troopers that are available in AL’s Marine Patrol Division will also be available to assist not just those who are boating close to the coast, but in all of the state’s major waterways.
“No whatever time of the time it’s, everybody should have a checklist of safety to make sure that all equipment on the vessel is functioning properly, like lighting for navigation and fire extinguishers, as well as they should wear PFDs with Coast Guard approval that are properly fitted,” said ALEA Marine Patrol Chief Steve Thompson. “Know the rules of navigation on the water, don’t operate a vessel if you are impaired, and always be respectful. This weekend you can expect an array of water activities, from water sports to paddle boats to fishing and swimming. We must all play our part to ensure that the waters safe for everyone to take advantage of.”
For Labor Day, ALEA is working in conjunction with Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to provide information to the public about the state of water and fish advisories within local regions. Troopers from the AL’s Marine Patrol Division will assist in the distribution of cards with the QR code that will lead people to the water quality pageon ADEM’s website once they scan it. On the site, users will locate links to the consumption of fish advisories sorted by area, maps which highlight any recent sewer spills and accidental release, and maps of beaches monitoring sites that offer the most current results of tests on water quality.
“We are thrilled and thankful to be able to collaborate with ALEA to provide this vital water quality information for the public to ensure your health” stated ADEM Director Lance LeFleur. “We hope that everyone who uses or is intending to use the state’s waterways and beaches whether for swimming, fishing or boating to be aware of the most current information on advisory for fish and beach monitoring, as well as wastewater discharges, and sewer spills or overflows. The information is accessible to anyone using an internet-connected device.”
“Alabama has a wealth of water resources, and we’re happy to be an agency from the state to share these resources to achieve the common goal of ensuring everyone is secure,” Secretary Taylor said. “We hope that everyone enjoys an enjoyable and safe vacation the weekend of Labor Day.”
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