5.1. SR 11-04-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Police chief' Zero tolerance on running red by Joni Astrup Associate editor .Three area law enforcement agencies will team together to crack down on people who run red lights, in the aftermath of a fatal car accid&nt in Elk River last month. Elk River Police Chief Tom Zerwas said his department, the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department and the Minnesota State Patrol have agreed to place more emphasis on ticketing people who run red lights. "Our position is zero toler- ance,"Zerwas said. ~Anyone goingthrough is going to get a citation." No warnings will be given. The fine for running a red light is $71.50. Zerwas said he will have offi- cers working overtime to enforce traffic laws. Some reg- ular on-duty officers will also be spending more time work- lng traffic. Sherburne County Sheriff Bruce Anderson and the Minnesota State Patrol have also agreed to help out. 'Between our three agencies, - we're going to increase enforcement on (highways) 169 and 10 in the area of sem- aph0res to try and address the serious problem we're experi encingf Zerwas said. The action comes on the heels of a fatal car accident in Elk River on Sept. 20. Lisa Schumacher, 43, was Red continued to page 11 Red, Continued from page 1 -: killed when a utility vehicle hit her car as she turned left; onto Highway 169 at School Street. A witness said Schumacher had a green arrow and that the driver of the utility vehicle did not stop. ..- Sherburne County Attorney Walter Kaminsky is still reviewing the case to deter- mine ffthe driver of the ufflity Wednesday, October 16, 19961 Elk River. Star News / 11 vehicle should be charged. ' Kaminsky said Monday that he is waiting for a diagram of .the accident scene from the Minnesota' State Patrol and for the results of blood alcohol tests on the utility vehicle dri- ver. Schumacher's blood alcohol test results showed no sign of alcohol, Kaminsky said. A national problem Zerwas said while some peo- pie think rurming red lights !s an Elk River problem, its more than that~ aIn actuality, it's a natio~ml problem," Zerwas said. Sheriff Anderson, mean- while, said Friday that one of his deputies just tagged a dri- vet for running a red light at the School Street-Highway ; ; 169 intersection. ',' "There has been a lot of con- .cern about those intersections and we will do what we can to assist Elk River on that.' The sheriff's department, which is the sole law enforce- merit agency in Zimmerman, will also be closely monitoring the County Road 4 and Highway 169 intersecfSon.