Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Friday, September 4, 2009
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Local and state law enforcement agencies have a message to motorists who may consider mixing drug/alcohol use with driving over the Labor Day weekend: “Don’t.”
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, like many other localities, is stepping up patrols over the Labor Day weekend to keep motorists safe and traffic moving, according to sheriff’s Lt. R.V. Vaughn.
“Please be responsible” if consuming alcohol, he added.
Beefed up patrols will concentrate efforts on people who drive after drinking, traffic enforcement and helping respond to what is expected to be an increase in call volume, Vaughn said.
Two types of funds — a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and money from a state Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) program — will cover the extra manpower, Vaughn said.
Martinsville Police Capt. Tim Porter said city police will use “standard patrols” over the weekend.
“Our shifts are in good shape and we’re going to stick with what we have” rather than adding officers, Porter said.
Officers always are on the lookout for unsafe drivers, and will be even more mindful of the potential for problems over the Labor Day weekend, with a “particular focus on DUI and speeding,” Porter said.
Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said deputies will be out “in full force,” with a focus on people driving under the influence as well as enforcing traffic safety.
Smith said the department is using a DMV grant to provide the beefed up patrols.
Patrick County Sheriff’s Capt. Ward Stone said deputies from Virginia and North Carolina will join together for the 13th year to hold “Border to Border” traffic safety checkpoints.
Patrick also will take part in the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” anti-drunken driving program, which is part of Virginia’s “Smart, Safe and Sober” traffic safety campaign.
The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, North Carolina Highway Patrol and Stokes County Sheriff’s Office will work together this year to man the patrol, he added.
The fatality rate in Patrick County was 3.3 times higher than the average for localities in Virginia in prior years, but so far this year, traffic deaths in Patrick have decreased by 85 percent, Smith said.
For example, seven people died on Patrick roadways last year, Smith said.
“Per capita, that is an extremely high number,” he said.
There has been one traffic fatality so far this year, Smith said.
He attributed the drop to “a direct result of enforcement efforts” by deputies and Virginia State police troopers.
“I know that our deputies are making Patrick County’s roads a safer place to drive (and) the statistics prove it,” he said.
With motorists and law enforcement working together, Smith said he is hopeful that downward trend continues. |
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