Police Announce Reduced Speed Limits On Some Streets In Warner Robins Georgia

Posted on July 11, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

Motorists in Warner Robins may want to take a second look at those speed limit signs through neighborhoods they’ve traveled for years.

That’s because speed limits have been reduced on several roads throughout the city, said Warner Robins police Lt. Todd Edwards, who heads the traffic division.

Edwards announced the changes Wednesday to midstate news media to get the word out and to give the public time to adjust before tickets are issued.

“We want to give them time to adjust their schedules, driving habits and mind-sets,” Edwards said.

Enforcement of the new speed limits will go into effect Aug. 1, he said.

However, that does not mean that motorists will have a green light until then to speed through those areas, the officer said.

The grace period is only for motorists who are below the old speed limit but not the new speed limit, Edwards said.

That’s a requirement of state law when speed limits are first changed, and police want to give motorists the benefit of the doubt.

But motorists who just want to speed on through can expect a ticket if over the old speed limit, the officer said.

Under state law, the city has to be granted approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation for the changes and also resubmit its permit to run radar on those roads, Edwards said.

There are separate state laws that give police the right to enforce existing speed limits and to cite motorists for driving too fast for conditions such as rain or heavy traffic congestion even if below the posted speed, he said.

But in order to run radar, the state must approve roads in which radar devices may be used, Edwards said.

John Kilko, the city’s traffic operations manager, said that’s partly because not all road terrains are suitable for speed monitored by radar.

Changes in speed limits also must get the state’s blessing, he said.

Speed reductions generally come about at the request of police who monitor trends in traffic, ranging from accidents to speeding, Kilko said.

The city’s transportation department then conducts its own study and makes a recommendation. Those recommendations go before the police and city administration for submission to City Council. Once the recommendations are approved, the state DOT does its own study and signs off on the changes and the new permit to conduct radar if in agreement with the city’s request, Kilko said.

All that takes time, so the city keeps a running record of changes every year and then submits them to the state for approval periodically, Kilko said. The previous permit was issued in 2005, he said.

Here are the recent changes in speed limits:

• Watson Boulevard from 500 feet west of Margie Drive to 100 feet east of Corder Road from 45 mph to 40 mph.

• Alabama Avenue from Northside Drive to American Boulevard from 30 mph to 25 mph.

• American Boulevard from Green Street to Oregon Trail from 30 mph to 25 mph.

• Corder Road from Leverette Road to Watson Boulevard from 40 mph to 35 mph.

• Lake Joy Road from Ga. 96 to Hatcher Road from 45 mph to 40 mph.

• Lake Joy Road from Russell Parkway to Feagin Mill Road, which is a school zone, from 35 mph to 30 mph from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. on school days.

• Lakeview Road from Lake Joy Road to U.S. 41 from 45 mph to 35 mph.

• Lakeview Road from Tharpe Road to Lake Joy Road, also school zone, speed limits 35 to 25 mph.

• Moody Road from Russell Parkway to 500 feet south of Feagin Mill Road from 45 mph to 40 mph.

• Osigian Boulevard from Houston Lake Road to Tom Chapman Boulevard from 35 mph to 30 mph.

• Russell Parkway from Ga. 247 to Moody Road from 45 mph to 40 mph.

• Russell Parkway from Moody Road to Corder Road from 40 mph to 35 mph.

• Russell Parkway from Corder Road to 500 feet west of Elaine Drive from 50 mph to 45 mph.

Warner Robins police also are taking a proactive stance in changes in law that allow the use of “low speed” vehicles on roads that have limits of 35 mph or less, Edwards said.

These low-speed vehicles are essentially modified golf carts that can go faster than conventional golf carts and handle rougher terrain.

Police want to get the word out that these vehicles require the same requirements for driver’s licenses, insurance and obedience to state driving laws as do other vehicles, Edwards said.

Motorists in other vehicles also need to be aware that these low-speed vehicles also have the same right to be on the roads as do regular vehicles and must be accorded the same rights of way and vehicle distance as regular vehicles.

Because these type of low-speed vehicles are now available for sale in the Warner Robins area, police want to prevent accidents and citations by giving folks the heads-up about the law and what may be an influx of these vehicles on city streets including portions of major roads such as stretches of Watson Boulevard and Russell Parkway.

For more information, contact Warner Robins police at 929-1170.

Article by Becky Purser, Macon.com

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Officers On Lookout For Impaired Drivers in GA

Posted on July 6, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

Area law enforcement officers and the Georgia State Patrol will be out during the Fourth of July holiday weekend to keep impaired drivers off the road.

The holiday traveling period began at 6 p.m. Thursday and ends at midnight Sunday. Despite higher gasoline prices, which could mean fewer vehicles on the road, the Georgia State Patrol is preparing for a busy holiday weekend.

“The warmer weather and holiday parties tend to increase the number of impaired drivers on our roads,” said Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “If you will be traveling this holiday period, designate a sober driver before the party begins, give your car keys to the host or make other arrangements to get you home, but by all means don’t drive if you have been consuming alcohol.”

Since Tuesday, any person who receives a fourth driving under the influence charge is considered a felon. The old DUI law allowed the courts a five-year window to capture DUI offenses before handing down tougher punishments. Under the new law, courts get a 10-year window to count up a drunken driver’s convictions.

Georgia’s new DUI law also requires first time offenders to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation. If the evaluation deems it necessary, the offender must participate in a court-supervised substance abuse treatment program to decrease the likelihood of recurring offenses.

State troopers will be not only maintaining a presence on the interstates, but also concentrating on the secondary roads where the majority of traffic crashes occur, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

Carmen Scarborough of the LaGrange post of the Georgia State Patrol said it couldn’t tell people if troopers will have sobriety checkpoints, but it will have extra patrol units out during the weekend.

“Roads are already starting to get more crowded and backed up, so we will have double crews patrolling the roadways this weekend” she said.

Lt. Lon Russell of the Russell County Sheriff’s Department said deputies will not have sobriety checkpoints, but they will have increased patrols throughout the area.

“If the state troopers set up checkpoints, we have permission to assist with that, and I would be surprised if they didn’t set up any checkpoints,” he said.

In Georgia and Alabama, a driver is considered DUI with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher.

If a person is caught for DUI, getting arrested is not the only step in the process.

After a person is taken into custody, their car is towed, said Chief Deputy Steve Osteen of the Russell County Sheriff’s Department.

Osteen said if a person refuses to take the Breathalyzer test after thearrest, the person has to spend 24 hours in jail. Even if a person wins the case in court, their license is automatically suspended for refusing to take the test.

“Once a person is booked in, their bond starts out at $1,000,” he said. “It depends on how many offenses the person has had.”

Osteen said a person usually has to hire an attorney because they will have to go to court for a DUI case. Even if it is the person’s first offense, their license is suspended.

“It doesn’t matter what offense it is, your license will be taken away,” he said. “In Alabama the third offense is a felony, and in Georgia the fourth offense is a felony.”

Story By Tess Hollis – Ledger-Enquirer.com

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New DUI Laws Top List of July 1 Changes

Posted on June 29, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

Drivers on Georgia roads will want to take note of changes in laws that make getting certain traffic citations become a felony charge after July 1.

According to Dublin Police Sgt. James Champion, the laws put more “teeth” into the consequences of some traffic violations.

“This is a major change to the DUI law,” said Champion. “The first and second DUIs are misdemeanors but on the third DUI it becomes a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and on the fourth DUI it is a felony with a fine of up to $2,000 and jail time.”

House Bill 336 also has another clause that will make driving records for DUIs count as far back as 10 years instead of five. This means those who have DUIs older than five years that under the current law would not have been counted, will find themselves with a driving record again.

Champion said the seriousness of DUI becomes more severe if the driver has a child under the age of 14 in the vehicle.

“That’s a separate DUI charge,” he said, explaining that there’s a separate charge for every child in the car under the age of 14 and the law will not allow the tickets to count as one. For example, a driver with three children under the age of 14 in the vehicle could face a felony DUI charge punishable by fines and jail time as well as a permanent record.

Senate Bill 55 leaves no room for a person to drive with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. The only exception to this law is wine. Champion said if a bottle of wine was opened at a restaurant it must be resealed by the restaurant and the dated receipt attached to it in order to transport it home. This does not apply to beer or liquor.

“If you do not meet those requirements then you will be charged with open container,” he said.

Driving without a license will be costly under any circumstances.

“If you get caught driving without a license normally the fine was $115. Now it’s over $600,” he said.

A citation for driving without a license under the new law requires the person to be fingerprinted and that information kept by the National Criminal Information Center. He said the only exception is if a person is driving on an expired license. In that case the driver will be cited and required to get the license renewed.

Leaving the scene of an accident is never a good idea, especially since the new laws will add stiffer charges to those who do.

“They must do everything possible to get aid if somebody is hurt,” said Champion of those who are involved in an accident. “If they leave the scene and a person dies they can be charged with vehicular homicide which has a prison sentence of no less than three years and no more than 15 years.”

He said even if a driver may think a person is not injured he is obligated to stop and make sure.

“How do you know if somebody is hurt unless you get out and check,” he said.

Don’t even think of telling a judge an appearance wasn’t made in court because there was no notice of a court date.

“When you get that traffic citation that is your service notice,” said Champion, adding all City of Dublin tickets have a date the ticket has to be paid or the person has to appear in court.

“If you fail to take care of that ticket on or before the court date your license will be suspended, and when you get caught driving on a suspended license you’ll be cited for driving with a suspended license,” he said.

Champion said the new laws leave no room for drivers to play around when it comes to not showing up in court.

“You don’t need any note. You know your license could be suspended,” he said, adding the laws are “putting some teeth back into” the consequences for violators.

Story by Stephanie Miller

Dublin Courier Herald Online

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Highway Safety Crackdown in Early County Georgia

Posted on June 23, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

With the summer holiday driving period approaching, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in the Peach State has once again begun its 100-days of summer Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic program.

Officers from 20 law enforcement agencies in Georgia came together Friday for a common goal, to promote safe highway traveling during the deadly summer holiday driving period.

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The 100-days of summer H.E.A.T program works in conjunction with Georgia Highway Safety Networks mandatory traffic stops are set-up in different counties to ticket those driving the wrong way and to show drivers there’s only one way to drive safe.
“Put a seatbelt on, keep the speeds slow and give yourself reaction time, and of course don’t drink and drive,” said Tony Bobbitt with Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Several tickets were issued for unsafe child seats, traveling with too many people in the back seat and some drivers found out if you drive without a license and insurance you don’t get to drive home.

Friday was the first time Early County was the location for the roadblock crackdowns. They will continue to pinpoint certain things throughout the night and the summer holiday season.

“High-speeds following too close aggressive driving like switching in and out of lanes with a lot of traffic, tailgating and all that stuff. During these two weeks focus is on impaired drivers,” said Bobbitt.

There are almost 1,600 fatalities each year on Georgia Highways. Law enforcement believes will help bring down that number and show motorist they are serious about safety.

More roadblocks are being set-up through the morning hours in Early County.

Story by WTVYNews4.com

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Speeders In Georgia To Pay Extra For Police Fuel

Posted on June 18, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer
HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. — The surging price of gasoline has come to this: a “fuel surcharge” on your next speeding ticket.

Drivers caught speeding in this north Atlanta suburb soon will have to pay an extra $12 — to cover $4-a-gallon gas costs for the police officers who stop them.

The City Council passed the fee hike, effective July 1, to offset fuel prices that have eaten up nearly 60% of the police department’s 2008 fuel budget, Police Chief Ken Ball says.

He expects the fee increase, which applies to all moving violations and can be rescinded if gas prices fall below $3 a gallon, to generate $19,500 to $26,000 a year for the town of 7,700.

Ball says he was seeking ways to maintain patrols despite record high gas prices. “I was hearing that Delta (Air Lines), pizza deliverers, florists were adding fuel charges to their services, and I thought, why not police departments?” he says.

Atlanta might be next. Monday, the City Council approved by a 13-0 vote Councilman C.T. Martin’s proposal to add a $10-$15 surcharge for motorists convicted of speeding and other moving violations, Martin says. “I want to recover the cost of the extra gas … without raising property taxes,” he says. The legislation awaits Mayor Shirley Franklin’s approval.

Other cities could follow. Ball says he’s being “inundated” by calls from police chiefs and city managers. “I’ve heard from at least a dozen police chiefs and half a dozen city managers,” he says of the measure passed Monday night. “They want to know how we did it, and could we send them a copy of the ordinance.”

Wendy Balazik, spokeswoman for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, says she’s not aware of any other cities adding such a surcharge. “But it makes sense,” she says. “Law enforcement agencies are already facing a number of financial pressures, and rising fuel costs can’t help the situation at all.”

The National League of Cities says it is unaware of other cities adding such fees.

The national average cost for a gallon of regular gas was $4.078 Tuesday, according to auto club AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Katie Harris, 20, a babysitter and student at Georgia Perimeter College, doesn’t like the new fines. “It always seems like government officials are trying to take money from citizens’ pockets,” she says.

Holly Springs Mayor Tim Downing says: “This is a self-taxing system. If you don’t break the law, you don’t pay the tax.”

By Larry Copeland, USA Today

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Latest Arrest Interrupts Off Season Serenity

Posted on June 12, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

And you thought it was going to be a quiet, uneventful summer.

Off season serenity was interrupted once again as Jeremy Lomax became the fourth Georgia football player to get arrested this year. Lomax, a senior who is battling for a starting job at defensive end this fall, was pulled over on the 10 Loop in Athens for speeding. He was going 80 in a 55. As is routine, the cop asked Lomax if he had any weapons in the car. Lomax, described in police reports as polite and compliant, told the officer he had an unloaded gun underneath his seat. The officer retrieved a Glock 40, confiscated it and Lomax was arested for speeding and possession of a concealed weapon and hauled off to jail.

So that’s four Bulldogs so far that have run afoul of the law. Fullback Fred Munzenmaier (underage possession of alcohol, standing in roadway) and defensive back Donovan Baldwin (DUI) were arrested in January. They were suspended two and one games, respectively (Muzenmaier got two for smarting off at the police). Starting offensive guard Clint Boling was arrested in May in Alpharetta for DUI but he refused field tests and proclaims his innocence, so his punishment has not been determined.

In so far as we can tell, Lomax will be subjected to similar discipline. Student conduct codes restrict weapons from campus but it’s unclear whether or not that extends to off campus. We don’t know yet the details of who’s gun it was or what Lomax was doing with it but that fact he didn’t receive any additional charges is probably a positive sign for him. So he’s probably looking at one or two games max.

At the very least it would appear four players will miss the season opener against Georgia Southern and perhaps two or three will be out for Central Michigan, too. I’m told there’s no truth to the rumor this is why UGA schedules light at the beginning of the year. By the way, there still are three months before the season starts.

But seriously, I’m on record in this space stating that I don’t think such misdemeanor arrests makes Georgia a “thug program” no more than it does Florida or LSU or Tennessee or Georgia Tech. In fact, after those first two arrests back in January, I wrote then to expect at least one or two more before the season starts.

Such behavior is unfortunate and regrettable but it’s also commonplace among college students 18 to 22 years of age. I also know the Bulldogs harp and harp on their athletes on this subject and have one of the most stringent and iron-clad disciplinary policies around. There’s no way you can say Georgia is soft on discipline. These guys miss games and are subjected to physical punishment and counseling in addition to their legal ramifications.

The easy thing to do in this situation is to stand up on a soap box, point a finger at Georgia and college athletics and say, “shame on you; you’re recruiting bad people and letting them run amok.” But I simply don’t buy that.

Am I wrong? Are they wrong?

Article by Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal Constitution, AJC.com

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Georgia Governor Signs Red-Light Camera Restriction

Posted on June 4, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

A new law in Georgia is intended to make it tougher for local governments to install red-light enforcement cameras. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2009.

The cameras that are used in more than 20 cities and counties across the state snap pictures of red-light runners or speeders’ vehicle tags. Tickets are mailed to the vehicles’ owners, regardless of who was driving at the time.

Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a bill into law allowing cities and counties to continue to use automated cameras at intersections, but put new restrictions on them. The new law, previously HB77, requires local governments to get permits from the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up cameras.

Localities with existing programs have until January 2010 to obtain permits for use of the ticketing machines.

Cities will be required to provide the DOT with annual reports on the devices. Local governments also are prohibited from decreasing the duration of traffic lights’ amber time.

Supporters say the changes are intended to ensure the cameras are for safety and not for filling local coffers.

Motorists who are issued photo tickets can avoid fines by sending in forms certifying that they were not driving when their vehicle was captured on camera running a red light.

Story by Keith Goble, Land Line Magazine

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Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Issues Sobering Holiday Predictions

Posted on May 31, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

It’s tragic to report, but fifteen of the twenty-two Georgia traffic fatalities from the 2006 Memorial Day holiday involved crash victims who weren’t wearing seatbelts. Heavy holiday traffic is expected again throughout Georgia as many motorists are already on the road to their vacation destinations for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. That’s why law enforcement agencies across the state are running roadchecks day and night this Memorial Day holiday driving period to target drivers and passengers who don’t bother to buckle-up.

“Motorists should be prepared to encounter these high visibility Click It Or Ticket safety belt checkpoints throughout the holiday weekend as part of the Memorial Day mobilization,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The Georgia State Patrol and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety are urging drivers to use extra caution during the Memorial Day driving period that begins Friday, May 23 at 6PM and ends at midnight Memorial Day. As Georgians pack-up their cars for the first big vacation trip of the summer, the Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Reporting Unit are releasing a sobering prediction for 2,300 traffic crashes resulting in 1,262 injuries and 19 traffic deaths.. All within a 78-hour travel period in Georgia.

The good news is, more than 72-percent of drivers and passengers involved in serious crashes nationwide survived when wearing safety belts correctly in 2006. “There’s no question. Safety belts are among the most important lifesaving inventions of our time and still your best protection against a deadly encounter with a drunk driver,” said GOHS Director Bob Dallas. “Think about it. How many times has a seat belt protected you in a close-call or saved the life of someone you know? No every-day device saves lives faster or as often as your safety belt.”

“Wearing your seatbelt costs you nothing, but the cost for not wearing one certainly will,” said Brian M. McLaughlin, the Senior Associate Administrator for Traffic Injury Control at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). McLaughlin came to Atlanta to launch Georgia’s Memorial Day Click It Or Ticket campaign. “So, don’t risk it with a ticket or worse, a life. Please remember to buckle up day and night – Click It or Ticket.”

The Memorial Day holiday also launches Georgia’s 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. speed and aggressive driving initiative. H.E.A.T. stands for Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic. The 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. is a multi-jurisdictional highway safety enforcement strategy designed to reduce high-fatality crash-counts during the deadly summer holiday driving period from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays.

“Waves of law enforcement patrols, including the Georgia State Patrol and the department’s Motor Carrier Compliance and Capitol Police units will crack down on impaired drivers, unbuckled drivers, and high-speed drivers for the fifth consecutive year,” said Director Dallas. “Our data shows these are the top three causes of fatality crashes on Georgia highways, not just on Memorial Day, but throughout the year.”

Dallas advises high-risk motorists to “Slow Down.” Besides getting you a ticket, speeding wastes gas. Fuel efficiency rapidly decreases at speeds over sixty-mph.. And every five miles-an-hour over sixty-mph is like paying an additional twenty cents-a-gallon at the pump. “Speeding can lower your gas mileage by 5-percent around town and as much as 33-percent at highway speeds,” says Dallas. “Driving at the speed limit saves gas. We already know it saves lives. Why not do both this holiday?”

The Memorial Day Crash Count will be posted on the GSP website at http://dps.georgia.gov and updated every six hours. For more information on H.E.A.T. and Click It Or Ticket visit http://www.gahighwaysafety,org .. day or night..

From DawsonTimes.com, Dawson County GA News

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Georgia Police Cracking Down On Seat Belt Use

Posted on May 27, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

ALBANY,GA. — Summer 2008 marks the fifth consecutive year that waves of law enforcement patrols in 159 Georgia counties will be cracking down on the dangerous, aggressive, and high-speed drivers who place thousands of innocent lives in peril on Georgia highways every summer. Let’s face it. In Georgia, it’s not the humidity bothering habitual speeders this summer, it’s the H.E.A.T.!

H.E.A.T. stands for “Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic.” The 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. campaign is a multi-jurisdictional highway safety enforcement strategy designed to reduce high-fatality crash-counts during the potentially deadly summer holiday driving period from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays.

This year, H.E.A.T. enforcement begins Monday, May 19th, on the same day as Georgia’s statewide Click It Or Ticket safety belt enforcement initiative.  Law enforcement agencies across the state are once again rolling-out a full-scale, high-profile enforcement mobilization to crackdown on the worst speed offenders.

The summer-long enforcement campaign is designed to make those high-risk drivers feel the H.E.A.T. on their checkbooks, license points and insurance rates.  H.E.A.T. means citations for speeding and aggressive driving.. Tickets for failing to buckle-up their kids or wear safety belts.. And jail time for drunk and drugged driving.  Why?  Because our highway safety data shows speed, impaired driving and unrestrained driving are still the top three causes of fatality crashes, not just during the summer holidays, but throughout the year.

“So in 2008, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) will continue to coordinate one of the longest, toughest, and most ambitious Summer H.E.A.T. highway safety initiatives ever launched in this state,” said GOHS Director Bob Dallas.  “Waves of law enforcement patrols including police, sheriff’s deputies, State Troopers and State Motor Carrier Compliance officers will help us crack-down on the high-speed motorists, the impaired motorists, and the unbuckled motorists who make highway travel a danger for the safe drivers across Georgia.”

“Our message to Georgia’s high-risk drivers is clear,” said GOHS Director Dallas. “Safety belt, DUI, and speed law violations will not be tolerated.  So once again it’s time to buckle-up, secure the kids in their safety seats, drive sober, and obey the speed limits during the long summer holiday driving period. Let’s make them safe and keep them safe.”

Georgia’s Highway Safety Director says there’s another common sense advantage to slowing down this summer, and that’s saving money.  With holiday gas prices predicted to spike around $4.00 for a gallon of unleaded, motorists should regard speed as a costly formula for both higher fines and fuel costs.

“Besides getting you a ticket, speeding, along with jack-rabbit-starts and sudden-stops wastes gas,” said Director Dallas.  “Your car’s fuel efficiency begins to rapidly decrease at speeds over sixty mph.  A lead-foot can lower your gas mileage by 5-percent around town and as much as 33-percent at highway speeds.”  “So as a rule of thumb, every five miles-an-hour you drive over sixty is like paying an additional twenty cents-a-gallon at the pump!  For high-risk drivers who don’t seem to care if speed is a killer on our roads, maybe now it matters if it’s murder on their wallets,” said Dallas.  “Driving at the speed limit saves gas.  We already know it saves lives.  Why not do both this summer?”

Speeding is risky business behind the wheel. Today the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety issued this statewide warning to high-risk drivers:  “The countdown is done and the 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. have officially begun.  Somewhere in Georgia there’s an officer with a ticket book waiting for speed law breakers during The 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T.

Story from WFXL Fox 31, Georgia

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Hundreds Netted in Georgia State Patrol Special Speeding Ticket Operation

Posted on May 22, 2008 by georgiatrafficlawyer

Thomasville, Georgia– Trooper first class Craig Singletary regularly patrols U.S. highway 19, also called Georgia state highway 300. “300 is a very busy highway,” he said. “Its extremely busy as far as day in and day out traffic. With that, the increased speeds make it a more high risk highway.”

Another factor contributing to the highway’s “high risk” classification: the sheer number of accidents they work on this road. “There’s a lot of fatal crashes in this area and it is a lot of times due to high speeding and DUI drivers,” Singletary explained. Troopers decided to crack down on the area by stepping up their day to day enforcement with what they call a concentrated patrol.

“It started in the early morning hours of May 5th and it pretty much went until midnight of that particular night,” said Thomasville Post Commander, Sergeant Ronald Warren. Twenty-one troopers from the Thomasville and Albany posts worked together to patrol the stretch of highway between the 2 cities.

“We’re trying to target the aggressive drivers, the speeders, those who are changing lanes improperly, and those who are just being a little bit careless,” said Warren. In the 16 straight hours of patrolling, troopers wrote 180 tickets, 70 warnings, made 1 DUI arrest, and slowed countless others down without ever pulling them over.

“Concentrating on one area, it tends to slow people down. It’s not all about writing tickets and citations its about just being visible and slowing traffic down to make the highway a safer place to travel,” said Singletary. That, they say, is their top priority.

Georgia State Patrol conducts a concentrated patrol somewhere in the state every month to crack down on high risk drivers.

Article by Sarah Baldwin, WALB News

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