Ontario Provincial Police will be out in full force this long weekend watching the province's highways for speeders, aggressive motorists and drunk drivers.

During last year's Victoria Day holiday weekend, officers laid more than 10,000 charges -- 80 per cent of those were for speeding.

Police have been equipped with more enforcement powers since last fall. The new law allows officers to suspend driver's licences for a week and impound vehicles on the spot for those caught driving more that 50 km/h over the posted speed limit or stunt driving.

"By the end of the weekend, about 5,000 motorists will have been charged under those sections for extreme driving -- probably more than 100 will be caught this weekend alone," Sgt. Cam Woolley said Friday.

Woolley said the law has helped reduce speed-related fatal collisions by 41 per cent.

The OPP will also have two aerial enforcement planes in the sky at the same time this weekend, a first for the force.

The OPP's Cesna began flying earlier this month and nabbed almost 100 speeders in its first week patrolling the 400-series highways.

The force is renting a second aircraft for the weekend, which will monitor drivers in the Parry Sound area.

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino says the aerial enforcement method is very effective.

"Working with our people on the ground, it's a force multiplier," he said Friday. "We're able to certainly see much more of what's happening. We can identify erratic drivers a lot quicker and we can see where we need to get more (officers) in a much more effective way."

Fantino says speed is a significant factor in the outcomes of crashes.

"It amplifies significantly the likelihood of more serious injuries and certainly causes death far more quicker than someone driving at the regular speeds," he said.

Officers and government inspectors will also be out this weekend inspecting and removing unsafe cars and trucks from the roadways.

One driver pulled over for having unsafe chains on his trailer said the inspections will make the highways safer.

"I was kind of ticked only from the point that it's time consuming, but I understand they are doing their job," the man said.

The OPP will also monitor the waterways looking for boaters who are drinking alcohol.

"It seems to be a recreational activity almost to go for a boat ride and have a couple of beers in their hand," said Sgt. Daryl Grenville.

"We have a zero tolerance for that and lay quite a few charges over the summer."

With reports from CTV Toronto's Matet Nebres and Chris Eby