By Billy Davis

The Miss. Highway Patrol will ramp up its patrols during the New Year’s weekend, promising a zero-tolerance enforcement of violators.

“There will be extra troopers out, and there will be zero tolerance – no exceptions,” said MHP spokesman Sgt. Leslie White.

The beefed-up enforcement kicks off noon on Thursday, New Year’s Eve, and runs through midnight Sunday, January 3. It follows a similar crackdown conducted during Christmas.

The Highway Patrol reported 193 automobile accidents during the long Christmas weekend. The auto accidents caused two fatalities and 34 injures statewide, according to White.

One of those fatalities occurred in DeSoto County, which is included in Batesville-based Troop E. The second fatality occurred in Jefferson County.  

Within Troop E, state troopers worked 22 collisions that included four injuries. Troop E also wrote 563 citations for speeding, seat belt violations, no child restraints, and other violations.

Troop E troopers also made three drug arrests and three felony arrests.

Statewide, Mississippi’s troopers wrote 6,039 citations during the Christmas holidays.