Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Phil Keith today announced traffic enforcement plans for the Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

 Holiday traffic enforcement efforts will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 28 and conclude at Midnight, May 31, 2004.

Chief Keith said the department will again rely on proven enforcement efforts from previous holiday traffic campaigns. Directed Patrols, Saturation Patrols, and the Triple Jeopardy Campaign along with the successful BE-SAFE construction zone enforcement campaign will be utilized throughout the eighty-hour holiday time period. "The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the vacation driving season," said Chief Keith. "Motorists should expect to see heavy enforcement not only on the Interstates, but also along the major arterial routes that pass through the city.

Part of that enforcement effort will include the utilization of the SMART units as well as a sobriety checkpoint." During the 2003 Memorial Day traffic enforcement campaign, fifty-six (56) accidents were reported with seven (7) of them resulting in injuries. Officers also issued 1628 traffic related citations. The last motor vehicle fatality to occur during the Memorial Day holiday traffic reporting period occurred in 2001.

Mayor Haslam said, "The police department will do their part to slow down motorists during the holiday traffic campaign just as they do every day of the year. We would ask that motorists do their part by slowing down and exercising patience while traveling throughout the city." Chief Keith said, "Officers will be out in large numbers citing people for speeding and arresting those who drive recklessly or who drive while impaired. We want to make the roads as safe as possible for both residents and visitors traveling through our area.

We would also encourage motorists to drive defensively and to be courteous to others while sharing the road."