We’ve seen it all before. A motorist drives the speed limit in a home state, then hits the line and takes off.

After all, if we meander into Mississippi, pop the cruise control about 20 miles over the

speed limit, it’s about certain that a state trooper won’t bother a person with an Alabama tag.

Well, this holiday, don’t bank on that.

Public safety departments in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee are joining together to prevent speeders from using that old trick.

The tri-state effort isn’t designed to bother anyone or to hurt any feelings. It’s not a way for guys with a badge and a gun to prey on folks headed over to Grandma’s house in the next state.

Col. J. Christopher Murphy, director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, said this time there will be 500-600 officers on Alabama roads and officials from the other states said they’ll have comparable numbers.

Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are committing both flagrant and minor offenses, including illegal lane changes, speeding, failure to yield right of way, following too closely, driver inattention and DUI.

After all, getting to and from Grandma’s is the point.