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Read comments (13)From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., police issued 30 tickets including 16 for speeding, five for insurance violations and three for not using seat belts.
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Plymouth County Sheriff's Office, Le Mars Police Department, Hinton Police Department and Merrill Police Department worked together to conduct the Special Traffic Enforcement Project (STEP) Thursday.
Chief Deputy Craig Bartolozzi, of the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department, coordinator of this program, said police are required to do six STEP programs a year and this is the second one this year at that intersection.
On May 22, 84 citations and warnings were issued there, he said.
"I just think it's because of the new bypass," Bartolozzi said. "Before they were slowing down to come in on (business) 75. Now it's more of a straight shot, an open area and people are increasing their speeds coming in."
Twenty officers participated in Thursday's STEP program.
Money was provided by the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau.
"Every year all agencies can apply for funds," Bartolozzi said.
For the sheriff's department that money has paid for equipment like car cameras and radar units. It can also be used for items like overtime pay, Bartolozzi said.
This STEP program is being conducted throughout Iowa from Aug. 18 through Sept. 1.
"Most (STEP) are geared toward holidays," he said. "This one is kicking off the Labor Day weekend."
Bartolozzi said the programs are necessary and beneficial.
Before and after each one, police take a seat belt survey. In May, 72 percent of drivers were observed wearing seat belts prior to the STEP program while 77 percent were wearing them afterward.
Each of the police departments and the sheriff's department will continue to do STEP programs throughout the year, although they don't necessarily have to be joint efforts. Neither do they have to be in the same location.
"We try to make them (drivers) aware we're out there. It's not to punish them," Bartolozzi said. "It's to slow them down a little bit and make them use their seat belts."
Chris2 is right. If you do the crime, be prepared to pay the fine.
And, IF a cop gives a warning to one person and not to the another, there are reasons "why".
Maybe they didn't try to lie about it. Maybe they were just nice and the police officer decided to return the favor. Perhaps the people that recieved tickets had had other warnings previously....I mean the combinations are endless.
STOP BEING A BUNCH OF CRY BABIES....Or obey the law....Theres a thought
Oh Chris2 you just keep speeding!
Please stop whining about a stupid traffic stop! If you are speeding or not buckled up and you get caught live up to it....cripes I can't count how many times I've been fined for speeding. I still do it...and I expect the police/troopers to continue trying to catch me speeding.
I wish they did put up a sign there...but you should know that a rural non-divided highway such as that is 55mph unless marked otherwise. Just the same as a city street unless marked is 25mph. We have got it so dang good here in Iowa....I get sick to hear people whine over something so petty.
Nobody said anything about not appreciating law enforcement. They are a very important cog in keeping society civil. All that we are saying is that if you are there to give out tickets, then give out tickets. If you are there to deter, then do that. Make it fair AND safe. I was not there to see it so I am operating on hearsay but if there were patrol cars on both sides of the roads does that not put the officers in a dangerous position? Even if people are slowing down as they are REQUIRED when approaching flashing lights? If that is the case I pray our officers are a bit more careful next time.
complain and moan--complain and moan
You are given a job to do and you try to get it done in a fair and safe way.
You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
You are appreciated, keep on trying.
My favorite part of that deal was there is NO SPEED SIGN COMING INTO TOWN ON THE BYPASS. So that could be contested. Its funny how it feels like they want you to get into trouble. I know for a fact that they pulled over my friend for going 71 in a 65 and got a ticket. I know the speed limit is 65 but come on now. He said well's must be going under cause the city sure needs the money!! GOOD POINT!! Where are the cops when you need em?? Oh yea all 20 of them were in a speed sting operation!!! Make sure you get em guys!!!
I witnessed this "Step" program taking place that day and let me tell you something about it from my perspective.
When you see someone pulled over you are supposed to merge to the other lane away from them correct? What happens if there are 12 cop cars lining both sides of the higway with people pulled over with all their lights going?
Does not seem very safe to me for other drivers. I was just on my way home from Sioux City and thought there was an accident up ahead of me. I slowed down and when I got up to it closer I was confused. I did not know whether to slow way down a drive the center of the highway (as other drivers ahead of me were doing).
I do not believe the risk of hurting innocent people is worth it to pull a bunch (20 or so officers in a one mile stretch is ALOT) of people over for seatbelts.
I totally agree with economics101. Where is the line drawn on the seatbelt and insurance violations? Those should be non-discretion infractions. One can't say, "Well, you were just a little without your seatbelt." As for the insurance, if they say they have it and just cannot show proof, site them to court and put the burden on them to fax in or present the proof that they were insured at the time when they go in front of the judge.
I don't quite understand. Someone please explain the picture here. Some got seatbelt violations--others didn't. Some got insurance violations---others didn't. Some got speeding---tickets others didn't. I maybe can understand the speeding and tolereance towards say 70 in a 65 compared to say 74 in a 65. But the other 2.
If your seatbelt isn't on it's a violation so how could some get a ticket and others not? 3 cited for seatbelts and 4 warned.
You wouldn't get a "stupid ticket" IF you were obeying the law....
I don't know if 20 officers were necessary in this "STEP" program. I couldn't agree more with unhappy with lemars, I know that if I was from out of town and that happened to me, the next time I would just keep driving through and not pull in, it's worth not getting a some sort of stupid ticket.
Honestly drivers coming off and heading toward the bypass should still follow the laws. The police are just trying to protect and serve. Remember that when a speeding driver rams into your car.
welcome to LeMars here is your ticket have a nice day. I am sure people coming through that way will bypass Le Mars next time, so much for drawing people into your town...