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Police ‘wolf packs’ step up activities
Officers work 10-hour shifts to nab DUIs, speeders and red light runners
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Thursday, May 1, 2008 |
PINELLAS PARK – On April 18 a city police ‘wolf pack’ went on the road.
A total of 90 traffic tickets were written during their 10-hour shift. One violator allegedly tried to deliberately run down officers before crashing his own rented vehicle into a fire hydrant.
While many people look at traffic cops with disdain, the fact is that they’re out there to make the roads safer while clamping down on reckless drivers, motorists under the influence of drugs or alcohol and other violators.
That April 18 when the police special operations unit hit the streets was a Friday night, a party night for people into the bar scene. Unfortunately, some get behind the wheel after having too much to drink.
“We’re not here writing tickets to make money for the city,” said Sgt. Tracey Schofield, who runs the special operations unit. “We’re out there to make the roads safer.”
Out of the typical fine the state gets half and the city gets half of the other half. From that money police fork over about $4,000 for laser units. A computerized ticket writer costs $2,000 and laptop computers average another $2,000 each. Schofield’s special unmarked truck runs another $30,000. There are numerous other expenses.
“The bottom line is that it’s expensive to run a traffic operation,” Schofield said.
But most officers feel if only one life is saved than its all worth it.
On that April 18 shift 52 speeders were ticketed along U.S. 19 and on other roads. Two red light runners were caught. One driver was ticketed for driving through a stop sign, another for following too closely. The rest were tickets for a smorgasbord of violations.
Nine criminal citations were issued, five of them for DUI. Four motorists were nabbed for possession of marijuana, one for possession of cocaine and, of course, there was the Georgia man who was arrested after a pursuit during which he allegedly attempted to strike officers with his vehicle.
“Many people freely admit to not paying attention to what they were doing,” Schofield said.
Traffic cops aren’t heartless. Often they will cut drivers a break. They will even hold a ticket to allow time for the motorist to prove that the car’s speedometer actually is not operating properly.
Some people have no clue of speed limits. Some portions of U.S. 19, for example, now have a reduced limit of from 55 mph to 45 mph because of construction.
“Most people apologize and are embarrassed when they are stopped,” Schofield said.
Amendment 1 that reduces property taxes also put the squeeze on government agencies. The state upped fines, in some cases dramatically.
A so-called “fix it ticket” for equipment violations has risen. Speeding tickets can cost as little as $88.50 for traveling 6 to 9 miles over the limit to $213.50. The higher the speed the more the fine. Speeding in school and construction zones costs between $113.50 and $363.50.
The list is endless and does not include increases in auto insurance that moving violations bring.
“U.S. 19 is a heavily-traveled road and a very dangerous one,” Schofield said.
U.S. 19 and Park Boulevard is the top accident intersection in the city, followed by U.S. 19 and 118th Avenue and at 70th Avenue.
“We’re just out there doing a job,” Schofield said. “I think the general public realizes that.”
That is, until someone sees the blue and red lights in the rear view mirror.
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Article published on Thursday, May 1, 2008
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