Mississippi Highway Patrol has begun its Fourth of July Holiday Enforcement Period.

The focus began at 12:01 a.m. Friday and will continue through midnight, Monday, July 5.

State Troopers will place emphasis on saturation patrols to combat speeding and reckless driving, according to Maj. John Poulos, MHP public affairs director. Safety checkpoints will also be set up throughout the period to promote seatbelt usage.

“We will step up our enforcement efforts during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the state,” said MHP Deputy Director Lt. Col. Malachi Sanders. “Our goal is to deter distracted driving, remove impaired drivers, and lower the number of vehicle crashes on our roadways.”

During the 2020 Fourth of July holiday period, MHP investigated 137 crashes with four fatalities, and made 116 DUI arrests.

“Due to the increase of summer traffic, we are asking motorists to make responsible decisions while traveling and to join with us in making roadways safer in Mississippi,” Poulos said.