By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



The city of Morris is no speed trap.

Those are the words of the city’s top cop himself, Chief Brian Cochran.

Cochran said at Tuesday’s regular city council meeting that he had received complaints from people who apparently had received speeding tickets in Morris.

He said the department was accused of ticketing drivers in order to bring in extra money for the city.

However, the Morris Police Department usually issues less than 10 speeding tickets a month.

In contrast, Cochran said, an average of 10,000 cars pass through Morris on U.S. Hwy. 31 every day — that’s 300,000 a month.

In October, officers wrote eight speeding tickets. There were a total of 77 citations, but the other 69 were for no insurance, DUI, reckless driving, driving with no license, moving violations and other offenses.

Cochran said that there would more than the average in November because the department took part in the Take Back our Highways campaign, a cooperative effort of law enforcement agencies in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi that was designed to reduce the number of traffic fatalities during the week of Thanksgiving.

Taking part in Take Back our Highways was in itself a privilege for the department, according to Cochran.

He said the department was asked to participate because Morris dedicated an officer to help with traffic during the Magic City Classic.

“I feel honored that my guys were invited to participate in Take Back our Highways,” said Cochran.