July 2, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The South Carolina Highway Patrol has created a new team of troopers to crack down on drunken driving just in time for the long holiday weekend.

The 31 troopers will be sent to all seven of the Highway Patrol's regions across the state. Sometimes they will patrol alone, and sometimes they will work with other law enforcement.

Authorities say the crackdown will include checkpoints and troopers on the highways.

The state Highway Patrol says the new team is needed because nearly half of all of South Carolina's highways deaths are caused by impaired drivers, compared to about a third nationwide.

The troopers were chosen because they were especially successful in arresting and prosecuting DUI cases.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)