Local News
State troopers write over 3,000 tickets during blitz
By Patrick McCrelessPATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM
Fifty extra Alabama State Troopers were on patrol in Cullman County over the last four days and they have the tickets to prove it.
During the Alabama Department of Public Safety campaign, entitled Take Back Our Highways: 50/4, the extra troopers wrote 3,534 tickets — a significant increase over the amount of tickets normally written in Cullman during a typical four-day time span.
“We would not normally write that many in Cullman, we normally have six or seven guys working that county,” said Alabama State Trooper Spokesman Curtis Summerville.
Among the tickets written, 1,254 were for speeding, which Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS) statistics indicate is the leading cause of fatal crashes in the state. Troopers also wrote 18 tickets for motorists driving under the influence, 847 for motorists not using seat belts and or child restraints, 53 for drivers following too close and 21 for improper lane changes. Another 681 tickets were written for drivers without insurance while 237 were for drivers without licenses.
Sixty-three non-traffic arrests were made as well.
“Those could be for warrants,” Summerville said.
Along with ticket writing, the extra troopers worked 17 wrecks, none of which resulted in a fatality. Summerville said the low number of arrests and absence of fatalities made the safety campaign a success.
“It’s definitely a success ... the bottom line is we had zero fatalities,” he said.
Cullman is the third county to take part in the safety blitz campaign this year. The county was chosen due to its high level of vehicle fatalities in last year.
According to DPS statistics, Cullman was the county with the second highest number of fatal crashes in 2007. Last year, Cullman had 39 fatal crashes, which was an all time record for the county.
Take Back Our Highways: 50/4 is the latest in a string of safety campaigns from the DPS. Troopers and other law enforcement personnel have conducted blitzes of the state’s interstates, state highways and county roads in an effort to stop reckless, drivers, drunk drivers and other traffic violators.
Statistics indicate that so far this year, there have been 123 vehicle fatalities on rural roads across the state, the lowest number of deaths year-to-date since 1999. Crashes are at their lowest level in 12 years.
“What we’re doing is working, it’s saving lives,” said Gov. Bob Riley in a recent press release. “Nothing is more important.”
- Local News
-
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
The town of Baileyton has received the Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
-
Smith Lake residents split on water plans
Residents on Smith Lake seem to be spilt which secondary water source would be best for Cullman County.
-
Signing on
Four local water authority representatives signed contracts Tuesday to join with the city of Cullman’s Duck River dam reservoir project.
-
Couple arrested for chemical endangerment of children
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two Berlin residents Saturday for allegedly keeping meth and syringes near two children.
-
Accreditation answer coming by early 2010
The Cullman County Board of Education took a step closer to district accreditation this week, though it will be next year until they know if their request is approved.
-
Robots fight to win
Holly Pond High School freshman Jordan Dover was excited when she had the opportunity to get involved with the Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition.
-
ServSafe Program becomes mandatory Jan. 1, 2010
The Cullman County Health Department is sponsoring a ServSafe food safety class Nov. 17-20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grumpy’s Pizza.
-
Holly Pond trying to save students from addiction
If Karen Rowell can reach just one student, she will be satisfied.
-
Water on the brain
The City of Cullman and the Cullman County Commission have their own proposals for a second water source for the area, and neither group has shown signs of relenting to the other’s plan.
But after Monday, that could change. -
City OKs junk rules
Cullman residents with very high grass and “junked up” property could soon be fined, as the city council has now adopted a revamped nuisance ordinance.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
