State, Local Law Enforcement Beef Up Patrols During July 4 Holiday

Last year, nine people were killed on the highways during the July 4 holiday, according to the S.C. Department of Public Safety.

State and local law enforcement agencies are working together so that number doesn’t increase this year. 

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is joining local law enforcement agencies and the Department of Natural Resources this week to ensure motorists are safe on the highways and around waterways as people celebrate the Fourth of July.

“When a holiday falls mid-week, we see motorists traveling both weekends – before and after the holiday,” South Carolina Highway Patrol Col. Mike Oliver said in a release Monday. “That is why troopers will be out in larger numbers throughout the week, joining other law enforcement agencies for saturations and public safety checkpoints to keep motorists safe.”

State Transport Police officers will be focusing on commercial motor vehicle safety as well, conducting inspections and stopping unsafe or overweight trucks, State Transport Police Col. Leroy Taylor said in the release.

You can also expect to hear more radio public service announcements from law enforcement urging roadway safety as they beef up their statewide DUI enforcement efforts. 

The July 4 holiday falls in the 100-day period officials call the 100 Days of Summer HEAT, which began Friday before Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day.

Last year, 4,930 DUI arrests were made during the 100-day period, according to the Highway Patrol and State Transport Police.

During this same period last — from May 27 through Sept. 5, 2011 — there were 233 fatalities.

So far this year, there have been 399 deaths and 371 fatal collisions through June 30 — the mid-point of the 100 Deadly Days of Summer, public safety officials said. 

Those numbers are close to numbers reported last year at this time. 

There were 400 deaths and 373 fatal collisions last year.