Local News - June 2003

Safety team patrols 321 corridor

Multi-county force assigned to traffic enforcement

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

Law enforcement from Lincoln and nearby counties are banding together to stop speeders and make area roads safer.

And that, authorities said, could lead to a reduction in overall crime.

“A couple dozen studies show that if you have a good traffic enforcement team, it reduces other kinds of crime,” said 1st Sgt. Doug Norwood of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

“We look forward to not only reducing crashes and injuries, but reducing other crimes.”

Deputies Zack Huntley and Tyson Rogers comprise Lincoln’s part of the 321 Connection Traffic Safety Team.

Authorities from sheriff’s offices in Caldwell, Catawba, Gaston and Watauga counties join Lincoln in the effort.

The team aims to reduce crashes and injuries along the 321 Corridor, which includes U.S. 321 and its feeder roads.

In addition to regular patrols focused on the roads, traffic saturations will be held in each county each month. Team members from all five counties will come together in a certain county and hold traffic checkpoints and run radar.

Since law enforcement officers on the 321 team are not responsible for answering routine calls, they can focus solely on traffic enforcement, Huntley said.

Rogers said the traffic team is a good opportunity for different agencies to come together for a common purpose.

“I’m glad we’re actually getting a chance to do it,” Rogers said. “We’re getting to help the highway patrol out, and they’re getting to help us out. It’s going to be good for everyone.”

Drivers should expect to see others counties’ cars in Lincoln County.

“If it’s a marked car, they need to give it all the respect they give us or the highway patrol,” he said.

Figures show that you’re three times more likely to be killed in a car crash in North Carolina than by all other crimes put together, Rogers said.

That’s what the traffic team wants to change.

Huntley said the effort has three goals:

·  Increase the level of traffic enforcement and visibility of law enforcement throughout the participating counties with particular emphasis on U.S. 321 and its feeder roads.

·  Decrease the overall crash rate and severity of crashes in each of the participating counties.

·  Improve the awareness of safe driving behaviors, use of seat belts, use of child safety restraints and traffic enforcement efforts.

A grant for the program provided Lincoln County with salaries for two officers, a fully equipped vehicle, a radar trailer and other additional equipment.

Throughout all five counties, a total of 10 new deputy sheriff positions have been added. The money also provides for the purchase of 11 vehicles, 11 mobile data terminals, 11 in-car video systems, 11 traffic radars, 10 portable radios and one radar trailer.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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