Virginia State Police patrolling Interstate 81 in the Salem District over the weekend blitzed drivers with more than 700 tickets as part of a statewide crackdown, a spokesman said. Troopers on I-81 and Interstate 95 issued more than 7,000 tickets statewide as part of Operation Air, Land and Speed.

On the stretch of I-81 between Montgomery County and Rockbridge County, troopers ticketed 387 drivers for speeding, 32 for reckless driving, 39 for other hazardous driving violations and 45 people for not wearing seat belts, said spokesman Sgt. Rob Carpentieri. Police also made a few drug arrests and issued tickets for other miscellaneous offenses, Carpentieri said.

-- Amanda Codispoti