Twice as many drivers were ticketed for running a red light or stop sign during a two-week crackdown earlier this month compared to a similar campaign last year, despite a similar number of overall traffic stops. This involved all law enforcement agencies in Dane County, according to the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission (TSC)
Through a collaborative effort organized by the TSC’s law enforcement subgroup March 12-21, the Wisconsin State Patrol, Dane County Sheriff’s Office and eighteen Dane County police departments made a special effort to look for drivers running red lights or stop signs, while also raising awareness about the dangers of this risky behavior.
Lt. Matt Plendl, Waunakee Police Department and co-chair of the TSC’s law enforcement subgroup, said, “Red light or stop sign running is a serious concern. A simple error in driver judgment can result in a life-changing injury or even a tragic fatality, not only for that driver but for other drivers, pedestrians or bicyclists. These crashes are completely preventable.”
While the focus was on red light/stop sign running, the increased enforcement also identified other risky behaviors or law violations. During this two-week effort, participating agencies reported:
- 1,848 traffic stops
- 1,535 traffic citations, including 258 for red light or stop sign violations
- 1,294 verbal or written warnings for risky driving, including red light/stop sign running, speeding and other behaviors
- 99 arrests for criminal/warrant violations (three times last year’s total)
“Intersection crashes can be especially serious because they often involve speeding and result in a T-bone type of crash with direct vehicle side impact,” Lt. Plendl said. “That’s why Dane County law enforcement agencies jointly focused on this issue: to save lives, reduce injuries and keep our communities safer.”
********** Participating Agencies *********
Wisconsin State Patrol
Dane County Sheriff’s Office
Belleville Police Dept.
Blue Mounds Police Dept.
Cottage Grove Police Dept.
Cross Plains Police Dept.
DeForest Police Dept.
Fitchburg Police Dept.
Madison Police Dept.
Maple Bluff Police Dept.
Marshall Police Dept.
Middleton Police Dept.
Monona Police Dept.
Mount Horeb Police Dept.
Oregon Police Dept
Shorewood Hills Police Dept.
Stoughton Police Dept.
Sun Prairie Police Dept.
Verona Police Dept.
Waunakee Police Dept.
For additional comment, directly contact: Lt. Matt Plendl, Waunakee Police Dept, Dane County Traffic Safety Commission Law Enforcement Group Co-chair: mplendl@waunakeepd.org, (608) 849-4523.
