State Troopers Trying To Take Back Our Highways

The screech of a State Trooper’s radar isn't something the driver of a cargo van wants to hear today, Saturday, July 25, 2009.

“Sometimes you know you get running your mouth, moving in between traffic and you forget what you're doing,” says Michael Graves shortly after being pulled over by State Trooper Stan Stabler.
Graves is just one of several people getting pulled over today along Interstate 10 as part of "Take Back Our Highways." Several law enforcement agencies across the region, including Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee, are taking part.

“We're looking at speeding, DUI, following too close, improper passing, we're looking for seatbelts,” says Corporal Stan Stabler. Alabama State Troopers say the last week in July is usually when the most traffic fatalities happen because a lot of people take vacation right before school starts.

“If you got to go somewhere, leave a little bit earlier, but be safe and be patient, follow your state laws,” says Stabler. I got the chance to ride along with Corporal Stabler Saturday afternoon as troopers were snagging drivers.

“It's hard to work it's hard to get turned around on it that's probably one of the big disadvantages of traffic being this heavy,” says Stabler. Drivers and troopers alike can agree there's one piece of advice that'll keep you from being pulled over in the first place

“Slow down, take it easy, like I’m going to do the rest of the day,” says Michael Graves looking over his newly issued speeding citation. “Take Back Our Highways” runs through the end of the month.