Highway Patrol ready for Memorial Day holiday travel period 

May 23, 2025 – The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) will begin the summer travel season with its first holiday travel period. The Memorial Holiday Travel period will start on Friday, May 23, at 6 p.m. and conclude on Monday, May 26 at 12 midnight. 

The Memorial Day holiday travel period coincides with the national “Click it or Ticket” safety campaign, so the state occupant restraint laws will be a priority. The enforcement of speeding, distracted, and impaired driving laws will continue to be a focus, along with the use of safety checkpoints, with the hopes of reducing crashes throughout the weekend. 

During the 2024 Memorial Day holiday travel period, MHP investigated 135 crashes with four fatalities and made 118 DUI arrests on state and federal highway systems. MHP also issued 864 citations for occupant restraint violations during that enforcement period. 

“As we head into the Memorial Day travel period, we encourage all Mississippians to be smart, buckle up, and drive safely,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “This holiday is a time to remember and honor those who served our country, and we also must thank the law enforcement and emergency personnel who are working throughout the weekend to keep our roads and communities safe.” 

“As we enter the summer travel season, our commitment to safety reaches its peak,” said Mississippi Highway Patrol Lt. Col. James Ivory. “We encourage both our citizens and visitors to fully enjoy what Mississippi has to offer, but safety must always come first. Our troopers are dedicated to reminding travelers to exercise caution as they embark on their weekend journeys. Additionally, let us take a moment this weekend to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”