STUART, Va. — An interstate effort to combat drunk drivers and other traffic violators begins next week.

The latest version of the “Border to Border” campaign will include law enforcement officers from Virginia and North Carolina who will focus on activities at the state lines during the last holiday period of the summer.

Capt. Ward Stone of the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office announced the program Friday, which is now in its 13th year.

Officers from both states will begin conducting traffic safety checkpoints Thursday at border crossings between the two as well as stepped-up patrols in anticipation of the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, N.C. Highway Patrol and Stokes County Sheriff’s Office will work together this year at the state lines, Stone said. N.C. 103 is the main crossing point between Surry and Patrick counties.

Patrick Sheriff Dan Smith said his deputies will be out in full force over the holiday weekend focusing on driving under the influence enforcement and traffic safety.

“Department of Motor Vehicles grant funding will be utilized in an effort to increase law enforcement visibility to deter drunk driving and reckless driving offenses,” the sheriff said.

Traffic fatalities in Patrick County are down 85 percent thus far this year. “I believe that this decrease is a direct result of the enforcement efforts made from our deputies and troopers,” Smith said.

The sheriff added that in previous years, Patrick County had a traffic fatality rate that was 3.3 times higher than the average for localities in Virginia. “I know that our deputies are making Patrick County’s roads a safer place to drive — the statistics prove it,” Smith said.

He is asking all those using Patrick County roads not to exceed the speed limit, not to drink and drive and to wear seatbelts.

The Border to Border effort is part of Virginia’s “Smart, Safe and Sober “ traffic safety program, along with the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign.