"Be warned that as part of Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) and the statewide Buckle Up or Pay Up: Click It or Ticket safety belt mobilization, troopers will take a zero tolerance approach with unbuckled motorists," stated Col. Peter C. Munoz, MSP director.  "In addition to looking for safety belt violations, troopers will pay special attention to drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or are driving in a reckless and unsafe manner."  

The official Memorial Day weekend begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23, and runs through midnight on Monday, May 26.  Last year, 10 fatal traffic crashes resulted in 12 deaths over the Memorial Day weekend.  Of those who died, six were not wearing safety belts, and alcohol was a factor in four of the crashes.

Operation C.A.R.E. began in 1977 as a collaborative effort between the Michigan State Police and Indiana State Police, and is one of the nation's longest-running traffic safety initiatives.  Today, it includes state and highway patrol agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Quebec Police Force and the Virgin Islands.