The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) released numbers of citations and incidents over the Labor Day weekend, and the highway patrol investigated six fatalities. They involved a motorcycle, an ATV and an electric bicycle.
In all, ALEA investigated 371 crashes. The fatal crashes occurred in Choctaw, Colbert, Lauderdale, Talladega and Tuscaloosa Counties. Troopers determined none of the riders were wearing helmets at the time of the crashes.
The travel period was from 12:01 a.m. on Friday to midnight on Monday. During that time, troopers also made 33 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) and issued 2,324 citations for speeding.
Meanwhile, ALEA's Marine Patrol Division investigated three boating incidents with four injuries. Those incidents occurred on Lake Martin, Neely Henry Lake, and in Orange Beach on the Intracoastal Waterway. They issued 538 warnings and 67 citations. There was only one boating under the influence arrest.
ALEA's Aviation Unit partnered with the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores for the Rescue Swimmer Detail along Alabama's Gulf Coast. The detail conducted nine helicopter patrol flights and responded to three calls for swimmers in distress.
After a 12-year-old was injured while being towed by a jet ski operated by another 12-year-old who did not have a license, ALEA reminded boaters that no one under the age of 12 may operate any motorized vessel.
"Individuals must be at least 12 years old to be eligible for a vessel operator's license but cannot operate a vessel alone until age 14," ALEA stated.
The registered owner of the 2024 Sea-Doo that the child was operating was issued an Alabama Uniform Boating Traffic Citation for Giving Permission to Operate a Vessel Without a License.
ALEA said that although the holiday weekend is over, all drivers should remain vigilant on roadways and on the water.
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