The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced plans for keeping residents, visitors and travelers safe during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (combined accident reduction effort) during the holiday weekend, which means that all available troopers will be patrolling roadways to enforce traffic laws and assist motorists.

Missouri State Highway Patrol
Kurt Parsons
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According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were eight traffic fatalities and 411 injuries in 969 traffic crashes last Memorial Day Weekend. Last year, 105 persons were arrested for DWI.

This year's fatality counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m., Friday, May 27, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 30, 2016. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, impaired drivers, and speed violations.

Memorial Day Weekend is also an unofficial start to the boating season. During the 2015 Memorial Day weekend, there were eight boating crashes which included one injury; no one drowned over last year’s holiday weekend. Troopers arrested 15 people for boating while intoxicated.

Those in need of assistance or who want to report a crime, either on the roads or on the water, should use the Highway Patrol's Emergency Assistance number, which is 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can visit our www.mshp.dps.mo.gov and click on the Road Condition icon to view road construction areas throughout the state or call 1-888-275-6636.

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