Labor Day Traffic Crackdown

Virginia State Police said its “saturation patrols” are different from checkpoints because officers stay mobile and concentrate on selected roads/areas where impaired driving or other violations are more likely, and the effort will run “from Friday through Monday.”

In Martinsville, the city was identified by Mothers Against Drunk Driving as participating in an Aug. 29 “Saturation Saturday” enforcement initiative; as of Wednesday, the report said no results from that operation and no additional Martinsville checkpoint plans had been announced.

In Patrick County, authorities said enforcement will coincide with traffic expected from the annual Hillsville Labor Day flea market and gun show (Friday through Monday, roughly 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.), which is held in neighboring Carroll County—along a primary route from Martinsville and Henry County that uses U.S. 58 through Patrick Springs, Stuart, Lover’s Leap, and Meadows of Dan.

Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office highlighted a communications component and specific on-scene behavior: Deputy Daniel Franklin said his patrols focus on distracted driving and speeding, and the sheriff’s office has also made Franklin the “focus of the sheriff’s office’s new social media traffic safety campaign.” The ride-along described Franklin telling a driver, “The reason I stopped you is erratic lane changes,” and later, “The reason I stopped you is operating a vehicle while holding a phone,” with “two people… pulled over within a 30-minute span.”