If you feel like there’s been a lot more law enforcement out on the roads recently, that’s not just your imagination. Local law enforcement across the state has been participating in the Labor Day special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) Wave since the middle of August, which continues through September 2nd.

In Dallas County, the Perry and Adel police departments and the Sheriff’s Office are each included in the program, which is organized by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau. The focus on this occasion is impaired driving and the nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn says the state supplies local agencies with funds to pay for overtime for officers, which allows them to be out more frequently and longer during the holidays.

Vaughn points out, while their primary purpose is cracking down on impaired driving, that’s not the only thing that can get you pulled over. “So we’re going to be out there, looking for violations like seatbelt violations, distracted driving violations, of course speed, and we’re going to be looking for those impaired drivers too. But you’ll see an increased presence all throughout the state. Hopefully they’re obeying the laws, you know they’re getting that seatbelt on and they don’t have to look out for us! They’re just good drivers. That’s what the whole program is, just to encourage good driving habits.”

The sTEP Waves are held during the busiest travel and party holidays of the year, with the next one being for Halloween.