RPD focuses enforcement
When faced with scores of traffic infractions daily, it can be hard for a local police department to address every issue that occurs on local roadways. But in July, the Russellville Police Department made an effort to focus enforcement on a specific set of violations – and that focused enforcement will continue in August.
In early July the RPD announced via Facebook that offers would focus on drivers not stopping for stop signs and red lights as well as people parking in fire lanes.
“We get complaints just about every day, ‘Somebody ran the stop sign by my house,’” Chief Chris Hargett said. “People running red lights has been a chief complaint here lately.”
Hargett said his officer wrote numerous citations for this type of infraction during the month of July, hopefully reminding everyone the importance of obeying traffic signals.
“You’d be surprised the people who will go through the intersection after the light has changed red,” he said.
Illegally parking in a fire lane, Hargett said, can potentially pose a huge problem.
“At Walmart for instance – we’ve noticed people who, instead of parking in the parking lot, feel like they can just run up there and park in the fire lane,” Hargett said. While it might be OK to stop there for just a minute to drop off or pick up someone, or to load a heavy or large purchase, Hargett said parking in a fire lane for any length of time inhibits its intended use – for emergency vehicles in the case of fire or other emergencies.
“We understand that’s few and far between, but when you don’t expect it to happen, that’s when it’s going to happen – and it hinders emergency vehicles from getting there in a timely fashion,” Hargett said.
For August, the RPD will focus its attention on three different areas of enforcement, paying little closer attention to these laws: littering, improper lights and improper use of medians.
“One area that we want to focus on is the beautification of our city,” explains the announcement posted to RPD’s Facebook page. “Russellville Police Department has a full-time compliance officer to enforce the ordinances covering inoperable vehicles, grass and weeds, along with other ordinances that cover the beatification of our city. Our compliance officer works with people in the community to help them become familiar and compliant with the ordinances.
“Another area needing addressed is littering, primarily litter on the roadside discarded by moving vehicles. Littering is a problem because it is an eyesore and many man hours and taxpayer dollars are spent cleaning it up. Russellville Police Department is going to focus on this problem with a heightened enforcement of littering.”
Littering is a Class C misdemeanor – more serious, the RPD explained, than a traffic offense. “You could actually be arrested for littering. Fines begin at $250 … and could include community service involving picking up litter.”
In addition to litterers, the RPD will target vehicles with improper lights, such as lights that are nonstandard colors or headlights that aren’t on when they’re supposed to be, as well as improper use of median.
“When turning left into a median, drivers are required to pull to the right side, just as they are required to drive on the right side of the road. Pulling on the wrong side of the median restricts the view of vehicles in the median and creates a hazard.”
For more information, contact the Russellville Police Department at 256-332-2230.
