Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Enforcement Starting Wednesday In Bucks

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — With 55.4 million expected to hit the roads this year for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Pennsylvania State Police will be out in force in Bucks County making sure the roads are safe.

The Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Bethlehem, announced on Monday its Thanksgiving Holiday Enforcement period, which begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and continues through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

A safety initiative dubbed P.A.D.E.E.P (Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement Education
Program) will be targeting drivers who aggressively operate vehicles in a dangerous fashion in terms of speeding, seat belt violations and child seat belt infractions.

Troopers will also be concentrating their efforts on drivers who violate:

• Texting While Driving
• Handheld Mobile Telephone
• Prohibiting Use of Hearing Impairment Devices
• Prohibiting Text-Based Communications
• Careless Driving
• Reckless Driving

Troopers will specifically focus on apprehending motorists under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During last year's Thanksgiving enforcement, Troop M —which serves Bucks, Lehigh and
Northampton counties —investigated a total of 80 crashes and made 27 DUI arrests.

Motorists are reminded of the mandates of Title 75 Section 3733, Fleeing or Attempting to
Elude Police Officer, which stipulates that any driver of a motor vehicle who willfully fails or
refuses to bring their vehicle to a stop, or who otherwise flees or attempts to elude a pursuing
police officer, commits an offense, graded up to a Felony of the 3rd Degree, which carries a
maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a $15,000 fine, and restitution for damages and/or
injuries sustained as a result of the pursuit.

AAA expects this holiday to be one of the busiest travel seasons in years with nearly 55.4 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles or more.