Thousands expected to hit the beach

MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- It seems that folks are either planning to hit the road or the beach this Memorial Day weekend.

With the holiday weekend upon us, thousands are expected to turn up at state beaches, like Silver Sands in Milford.

"Get up early in the morning and go," Greg Humphries of Milford advised.

You can expect to encounter quite a bit of traffic on your way to the beach as high gas prices aren't enough to keep eager vacationers from having a little fun in the sun.

"I was hoping it would stay lower, but I'm going to go one way or the other," said Bob Stone of Milford.
 
"If I were driving out home to Ohio then I would let it stop me, but just a couple hours up the road? No," Humphries said.

State police tell News 8 extra patrols, many undercover, will be out on the highways this weekend.

"They'll be looking for speeding, they'll be looking for aggressive driving, people not wearing their seat belts, people talking on their cell phones while they're driving and, of course, people that are impaired while they're driving," said State Police Trooper Kelly Grant.

This weekend also marks the first Memorial Day weekend that folks can buy liquor on Sunday. However some liquor stores are staying closed because they say they want the holiday off too.

"I like having a day off," said John Colaresi from Valencia Liquor. "I mean I don't like working seven days a week. I mean it's family day."