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Law enforcement on both sides of border to join forces to ensure safety this holiday weekend

Posted 10/6/11

The upcoming Columbus Day weekend is also Thanksgiving Day weekend in Canada, and New York State Police and Canadian law enforcement agencies are again joining forces, hoping to ensure safety across …

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Law enforcement on both sides of border to join forces to ensure safety this holiday weekend

Posted

The upcoming Columbus Day weekend is also Thanksgiving Day weekend in Canada, and New York State Police and Canadian law enforcement agencies are again joining forces, hoping to ensure safety across the borders.

Police are warning they will target traffic violations such as speeding, failure to wear seat belts, impaired driving and use of hand-held electronic devices on roads in the proximity of the major international border crossings, including the bridges at Massena and Ogdensburg, and on popular routes of travel.

With the coincidence of the national holidays in both countries combined with pleasant weather forecasts and seasonal fall activities, international traffic volumes are expected to be high.

"Safety Without Borders" is the name they have given the campaign.

“When people think about border safety, they normally don’t think about traffic enforcement, but getting there safely is the goal of all travelers," said State Police Major Richard C. Smith Jr., Troop Commander, Troop B, which comprises St. Lawrence Franklin Essex, Clinton and Hamilton counties.

"We expect international travel to be heavy this weekend, and working with the Provincial Police in Ontario and Quebec, we aim to make sure that traffic safety laws are enforced equally and effectively on both sides of the border," Smith said.

The Columbus Day – Canadian Thanksgiving Day weekend is the fourth time Canadian and New York law enforcement have teamed up in this effort. The New York State Police, Ontario Provincial Police, and Surete du Quebec also worked cooperatively on the Safety Without Borders Initiative during three previous holiday weekends at Easter, Independence Day and Labor Day.

During those weekends combined, police on both sides of the borders stopped more than 10,000 vehicles and issued nearly 6,000 tickets. In addition, they inspected more than 800 tractor-trailers and coach buses, placing 117 of those out of service for serious safety violations, such as inadequate brakes. More importantly, despite exceptionally high traffic volumes, there were no fatal crashes in the border focus areas during any of the holiday weekends.