From WRIL -
On Friday night, June 9, 2023, law enforcement from both Kentucky and Tennessee came together for the annual "Hands Across The Border" operation.
Since 2005, units have been coming together from the Bell County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky State Police, Middlesboro Police, Park Rangers, and Pineville Police on the Kentucky side of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Their counterparts to the south from Claiborne County Sheriff's Office, Green County Sheriff's Office, LMU Police, New Tazewell Police Department, Tazewell Police Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol set up on their side.
(pictures submitted to WRIL)
The goal of the multi-jurisdictional event was to have troopers, deputies, and officers check for impaired drivers, adherence to licensing and registration of each state, children not properly restrained in child safety seats, and proper use of seatbelts.
Middlesboro Sgt. Nick Capps tells WRIL that the operation was successful in that individuals were taken off the roadways for DUI charges, outstanding warrants were served, illegal drugs were located, and several tickets for no insurance, and no seatbelts were issued.