The Labor Day holiday is still two weeks away, but when travelers take to the state’s highways, they will not only find additional law enforcement officers on patrol, they will find increasingly higher gas prices as well.

According to a report of Alabama gas prices, released earlier this week, the average prices for gasoline are just 2.4 cents lower than last year, but are nearly 36 cents per gallon higher than just a month ago. And, they have jumped just over five cents since last week.

According to AlabamaGasPrices.com, the average per gallon price of gasoline in Alabama — as of Monday — was $3.46 per gallon. This compares with the national average of $3.67 per gallon.

“The national average has spiked 25 cents per gallon just in the last month, thanks to an onslaught of refinery problems — mainly in the Great Lakes and California,” GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said. “While these situations are temporary in nature, it goes to show this nation’s dependence on domestic refineries. While oil prices have gained in recent days, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for motorists: driving season will be over in less than a month and soon thereafter the EPA also relaxes gasoline mandates, meaning cheaper winter fuel.”

Recently, Gov. Robert Bentley awarded nine grants, totaling $250,000, to help law enforcement agencies across the state to provide additional officers during the busy Labor Day Holiday weekend.

According to a release from Bentley’s office, the funds will cover overtime pay for police officers and sheriff’s deputies Aug. 17-Sept. 3 for the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Officers will emphasize enforcement of DUI laws by conducting safety checkpoints and increasing the number of patrols on Alabama roads.

“Drivers should never consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a vehicle,” Bentley said. “Through this safety campaign, our law enforcement officers will work hard to prevent injuries and fatalities by getting drunken drivers off the road.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from the State Traffic Safety Trust Fund, an account that receives fines paid by individuals found guilty of driving without a license or with a suspended or revoked license. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, recreation, energy conservation, water resources, job training and career development.

Bentley awarded the following “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” grants to the state’s nine regional highway safety offices, including three offices that patrol areas in the Black Belt region:

4 $38,725 to the city of Montgomery for the Central Alabama Highway Safety Office which serves Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and Russell counties.

4 $17,700 to the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission for the Highway Traffic Safety Division which serves Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Marengo, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties.

4 $18,800 to Shelton State Community College for the West Alabama Community Traffic Safety Office which serves Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties.