2009 News Releases

Date:

September 2, 2009

For More Information Contact:

Officer Katie Flood, Public Information Officer, 441.7226

---

Southeast Team Traffic Enforcement Summary

The Lincoln Police Department's Southeast Team organized a special traffic enforcement project during two separate weekends in August to impact traffic violations and drunk driving in their area.

On Friday and Saturday, August 21-22, 2009, officers saturated designated areas focusing on drivers who were impaired or committing traffic and safety violations. This increased enforcement resulted in the following citations:

4	Driving under the influence
3	Driving under suspension
1	Warrant arrest
21	Official traffic citations
46	Traffic warnings

The project ended with a safety and sobriety checkpoint conducted from Friday, August 28th from 11:00pm until Saturday, August 29th at 2:30am. A total of 276 vehicles passed through the checkpoint on Old Cheney at S. 31st Street. Eighty-seven (87) of those drivers were contacted by officers, resulting in the following citations:

4	Driving under the influence
1	Refusal to submit to a chemical test
3	Minor in possession
4	Open container
17	Official traffic citations
32	Traffic warnings

The drivers contacted were queried as to whether they believed the checkpoint was fair, whether they minded being contacted and whether they feel checkpoints deter drunk driving.

Survey Results:

#1) Do you believe the checkpoint is fair?
81-Thought it was fair, 5- Did not, 1- Unsure

#2) Do you mind being stopped as part of this checkpoint?
77- Did not mind, 7- Minded, 2- Unsure

#3) Do you believe checkpoints help deter impaired driving or help in creating a safe environment for motorists?
77- Thought it helped, 6- Did not, 4-Unsure

Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).