IN - Elkhart County police agencies band together for safe driving effort

Elkhart County police agencies band together for safe driving effort

Originally printed at Elkhart County police agencies band together for safe driving effort | WSBT - News, Weather, Sports South Bend | Local News
Elkhart County police agencies are coming together as part of a statewide effort to increase safe driving.
Lt. Ed Windbigler, public information officer, said the police partnership would focus on "aggressive driving in general," which includes a variety of offenses, including speeding.
But the agencies also will check for seat belt use, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and other reckless driving habits.
According to Windbigler, the Elkhart Police Department this year already has cited nearly 1,400 people for improper seat belt use and issued more than 2,100 speeding citations.
The Elkhart County effort is part of a trend across Indiana to form multi-jurisdictional traffic safety partnerships.
"High visibility enforcement creates heightened awareness and inspires the actual behavioral changes we need to save lives on our state and local roadways," Cpl. Terry Chmiel said in a news release. "By increasing our presence, we are not only contributing to progress made in Elkhart, but to the state's goal of lowering overall traffic fatality rates."
Bristol, Goshen, Elkhart, Millersburg, Nappanee and Wakarusa city police and the Elkhart County sheriff's department will be patrolling throughout the county. This means, Windbigler said, that an Elkhart city patrol car might be patrolling in New Paris, for example.