During ride-along, Alabama law enforcement shares what to know over Memorial Day weekend

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — CBS 42 State Capitol Reporter Ryan Hall spent Thursday with Alabama state troopers.

They shared their main concerns when it comes to keeping Alabamians safe this holiday weekend.

Hall rode along with Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. He made two traffic stops, one of them being for failure to yield right of way. He said a driver’s focus is important on the road.

“If you got a cheeseburger in your hand, if you got a drink in your hand, kids are talking, just as you said phones going off, those things all come together and create this enormous distraction where you can’t focus on the task of actually driving,” Burkett said.

The other traffic stop was for not wearing a seatbelt.

“If something happens, and you’re in a vehicle, and something happens — a traffic crash, a vehicle goes off the road — there’s no way for you to do anything for anybody else if you’re not protecting yourself first,” Burkett said.

On the boat and in the water, attention also matters.

“Sitting above the gunnel on the boat, that’s going to be the side of your boat right there, anywhere above a designed seating area is dangerous and you could fall in or be hurt or cut by the prop,” said Cpl. Marshall Westbrook of the ALEA. “You’re going to want to avoid that.”

“You have to be able to see your red/green light for up to one mile and your white light up to two miles,” said Cpl. Steven McLeroy of the ALEA. “So just make sure all three of those are working before you go out at night, and those are some of the big issues for us.”

Burkett said impaired driving overall is a concern on the roads. McLeroy said don’t hesitate if an issue comes up this weekend and call 911 for help.

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