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  1. #1
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default GA - Memorial Day Weekend

    Extra cops start patrols today
    Coastal Empire | Intown | Local News | West Chatham
    Megan Matteucci | Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 12:30 am

    The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police and other officers will spend the next day 90 days cracking down on speeding, DUI, reckless driving and other traffic violations.

    More than 50 extra officers from across the state will hit the streets of Chatham County today as part an aggressive traffic enforcement campaign.

    The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police and the extra officers will spend the next 90 days cracking down on speeding, DUI, reckless driving and other traffic violations as part of Operation Rolling Thunder.

    SCMPD requested help from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety after a 50 percent spike in traffic accidents with serious injuries or death, police spokesman Sgt. Mike Wilson said.

    Fifteen people have died on Chatham County roadways so far this year. As of this time last year, 10 people had died in crashes, according to Wilson.

    "The crashes that seriously injure, maim and claim the lives of motorists and pedestrians typically result from traffic violations and bad driving," Chief Michael Berkow said in a statement. "Our goal is to reduce the highway tragedies that result from violations through bad visibility and vigorous enforcement."

    Last year, Chatham County ranked as the "fifth deadliest place to drive in Georgia," according to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

    The 90-day enforcement campaign will begin on Interstate 16 today, but will target all areas of Chatham County.

    It will be led by the SCMPD five-officer Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic unit. It will include 15 Georgia State Patrol troopers and officers from the 26 HEAT units from across the state.
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  2. #2
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default

    Spring breakers beware
    Many on the road; police on lookout for speed demons
    BY KAFFIE SLEDGE
    Staff Writer

    Columbus students may be taking their spring break this week, but spring breakers traveling from Atlanta to Panama City, Fla., have been traveling Highway 431 for nearly two months now, said Russell County Sheriff Tommy Boswell.

    "Some Fridays are bumper-to-bumper," Boswell said. "And if you look, it's Atlanta-area license plates."

    Law enforcement is looking for typical holiday-style incidents -- mainly speeding and reckless driving -- he said. His primary concern is the portion of U.S. 431 around Seale, Ala., that is under construction, the sheriff said.

    Most people from Columbus travel U.S. 431 South on spring break, headed for Florida's beaches, and Alabama troopers have an overtime project that gives them extra troopers to work 431, said Tracy Nelson, a statewide information officer for Alabama State Troopers.

    "They will be looking for the aggressive driver, the impaired driver. And for anything else that raises its ugly head," he said. "We'll be looking for people who actually cause these bad traffic fatalities."

    Heads up

    "The main thing we look for out there on the roadways is the erratic driver, the reckless driver and the aggressive speeders," Nelson said.

    Nelson defines an aggressive driver as one who drives well over the speed limit and weaves in and out of traffic. "This driver is also endangering other motorists."

    Boswell said his deputies do make some arrests, but not many drunk driving arrests.

    Not so with state troopers. So far, Nelson said, state troopers have been catching a lot of drinkers, and a lot of underage drinkers.

    Spring breakers are 15 to 25 years old. And that's the age group troopers have been arresting for drinking, he said.

    "We've also been catching a lot of speeders," he said. "People are in a hurry to get to the beach as quick as they can, and we've intercepted a lot of them. We are proactive about our driving-impaired laws.

    "Routinely, through spring break we'll stop a carload of young people who are headed to the beach. Whoever owns the car may have done something wrong, and we end up having to call parents to come pick up the rest of the occupants."

    Parents don't like that call, Nelson said

    "That is one time when parents can't stand to have us call," he said. "Sometimes, I think, they do more damage than we will.

    "It's all right to go on spring break and have a good time. That's what we want you to do. But when you start violating the law with drinking and underage drinking and speeding, driving impaired, you're putting residents and others traveling in the state of Alabama in a dangerous position. That's what we're trying to stop."

    Got gas?

    According to cbsnews.com, gas prices for the week of March 26 were:

    • The nationwide average price per gallon of regular gasoline, $2.581

    • U.S. average one month ago: $2.321

    • One year ago: $2.503

    • Highest recorded price, California, $3.184

    • Lowest recorded price, South Carolina, $2.384

    • Georgia state average per gallon regular, 2.437

    • Alabama state average per gallon regular, $2.445

    • Florida: state average per gallon regular, $2.598
    Laser Interceptor Dual, Laser Interceptor Quad, Valentine 1 & The Escort 8500 X50 - Blue, Uniden BC296D, GRE500, Lasershield, 2011 Kia Soul +, Yamaha FZ6, 2005 Black Dodge Neon SRT-4,


 

 

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