In an effort to prepare for the onslaught of Memorial Day holiday travelers, the Texas Department of Public Safety is increasing the number of Texas State Troopers who will be on patrol.

Unfortunately, these are people who will not get to enjoy a three day weekend, but instead will be out there protecting the public from dangerous driving. Texas State Troopers will be on patrol enforcing seat belt use as part of the nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign, and also watching for drunk drivers, distracted drivers who are acting reckless; speeders and any other form of dangerous driving.

If you are a good defensive driver you probably don’t have anything to worry about. But if you are prone to speeding because you are perpetually late to everything, likely to change lanes without signally, or just plain careless behind the wheel, Texas State Troopers will be watching for you. And since they are missing their holiday weekend to work you can bet they won’t be in a very good mood either.

DPS will have extra troopers on the road from Friday, May 25, through Monday, May 28, looking for drunk-drivers, speeders, people without seatbelts and other traffic violators across the state.

“Memorial Day is an important day of remembrance for all who have paid the supreme sacrifice in our nation’s service,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “We encourage Texans to honor those fallen heroes this holiday weekend in a safe and responsible way. Residents and visitors should drive responsibly, and should know that our troopers will arrest those who are drinking and driving and will issue tickets to those disregarding our traffic laws.”

Last year during the Memorial Day weekend, DPS troopers arrested 518 drunk drivers and issued more than 6,000 speeding citations, more than 1,500 seatbelt and child-safety restraint tickets, and cited 842 drivers for driving without insurance. Additionally, troopers arrested 280 wanted fugitives and 215 suspects with felony warrants. The increased traffic enforcement also resulted in 20 drug cases and 11 stolen vehicles recovered.