Hands Across The Border 2003

“Hands Across The Border is a great opportunity for Law Enforcement Officers of adjoining states to partner with each other and make a commitment to save lives on ALL our roadways. The event serves as a kick off to the Labor Day “Click it or Ticket” mobilization. During the events, law enforcement sends the message to the motoring public that traffic laws will be strictly enforced from state to state in an effort to save lives during the deadly Labor Day Holiday period. 

HATB traditionally is a series of media events at Welcome Centers around the state borders. Law Enforcement Officers from each state come together for a special program at the Georgia Welcome Center before motorcading to the adjoining state's welcome center for a continuation of the program. The highlight of the program is the handshake between two Law Enforcement officers from either side of the state lines, pledging their cooperation to work together in reducing fatalities and serious injuries during the holiday. The night before the HATB program, the two state's law enforcement agencies come together for multi state Sobriety Checkpoints or Saturation Patrols.

The 12 th Annual Hands Across the Border Program was a tremendous success with approximately 435 officers representing 127 Georgia law enforcement agencies participating in the Sobriety Checkpoints and 463 officers representing 156 law enforcement agencies participating in the HATB media events. The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety Law Enforcement Services Division with the assistance of the LEL's and Traffic Enforcement Network Coordinator's and Assistant Coordinators coordinated ten media events and nine sobriety checkpoints in five days and six nights. Agency participation was at an all time high and media presence was better than expected. A total of fifty-three media agencies covered the HATB 2003 checkpoints and the press events. Numerous news stories were generated throughout the state.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE 2003 HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER PROGRAM (WARNING: THIS IS A LARGE FILE), CLICK HERE FOR THE WORD DOCUMENT.