3.18. SR 09-15-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Intensive Traffic Enforcement As previously mentioned, our project is broken down into five (5) components. The first component is Intensive Traffic Enforcement. The primary reason for this component is a huge public concern with traffic problems recently, especially the highway area which runs through our growing commercial areas. Our program would provide concentrated enforcement efforts in areas of public concern. In 1996 we had two (2) fatalities and numerous other personal injuries and property damage accidents in a one-half to one mile stretch of Highway 169. These two accidents prompted two areas of major concern for our residents and commuters. One of these fatal accidents involved the driver of a car who was broadsided and killed by a driver who ran a red light. This prompted a flood of letters to the local newspaper, 'Elk River Star News', as well as other front page articles of accidents involving semaphore violations. Organizations such as the School District and the Elk River Chamber of Commerce expressed concerns over the traffic problems on Highway 169. The Elk River City Council authorized some overtime funds for semaphore enforcement however the amount was not enough to adequately address the problem on a continual basis. Officers did justify that the problem was real and not just perceived, by writing a large number of semaphore violations when they were able to concentrate their enforcement efforts. Citations for semaphore violations increased by 500 - 600% (from an average of less than 10 per month to over 60 per month) by assigning a few overtime shitts for several months. Citizens have also become directly involved with these violations. We have had numerous instances where citizens observed semaphore violations and called 911. Several of them followed the violator while calling 911 on their cellular phones and were willing to sign complaints on the drivers who had violated the semaphores. The second fatality involved a juvenile male pedestrian who was struck by a car. The juvenile was crossing the highway atter dark and not at an intersection. This has become an increasing problem because of the number of commercial businesses and restaurants on both sides of the highway as well as residential areas. Aside from the fatality, there have been complaints by motorists of the pedestrian problem. The City of Elk River is already working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to help remedy some of the problem. Mn Dot will be installing additional lighting along the highway. Mn Dot will also be installing a fence on both sides of Highway 169 between Main Street and 193rd Avenue. Officers have also been directed to stop and educate/enforce violators who are crossing at locations other than intersections. To date, officers have been unable to spend any time doing this because of call load and other activity. Although this activity would not be something that we would devote specific time for, it be would done in conjunction with the semaphore details on that same stretch of highway. Other Intensive Traffic Enforcement would include specific identified areas with traffic safety problems. These areas are and would be identified by citizen complaints of a problem in a specific area or through normal citizen contact by our officers while speaking with residents in other COP activities. We have identified these traffic problem areas in the past and have tried to deal with them through concentrated enforcement during regular shitts. 3