The Virginia State Police and the Augusta County Sheriff's Office are cracking down on holiday travelers.

VSP 1st Sgt. Scott Van Lear says, when it comes to the Fourth of July weekend, they aren't holding anything back.

Van Lear says, "We see increased traffic on Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving. Those are the big four."

Seventy-five percent of the law enforcement forces in Augusta County and Staunton will be on patrol through the weekend.

The extra presence is due to Operation CARE, an ongoing campaign to make the roads safer during busy holiday weekends.

Van Lear adds, "It'll cause people to drive more courteously, less dangerously, and therefore we will have less accidents and less fatalities."

Van Lear and other troopers will be concentrating on speeding, reckless driving, and drinking and driving.

However, it's a team effort as the Augusta County Sheriff's Office will also be on the roads in higher numbers.

Deputy Erik Hammersberg says, "People will be off work and we do have increases in driving under the influence incidences."

He says the department will have a full staff plus five extra deputies on the roadways.

Hammersberg adds, "Just the general presence and the enforcement of traffic laws is important for public safety."

While both state police and the sheriff's office expect an increase in crashes this weekend, they both have high expectations about their combined effort this Independence Day.

Hammersberg says, "I hope by the end of the weekend, everybody goes out and has a good time, but gets home safely."

Statistics show that during the Fourth of July holiday last year, state police saw the lowest number of traffic fatalities in five years. They're hoping they can top that this weekend.