The Virginian-Pilot
©
Virginia State Police are increasing patrols this week in anticipation of increased traffic on the state’s highways.
During last year’s Thanksgiving holiday, 16 people died on Virginia roads, up from 12 in 2008, a news release says.
The agency plans to have 75 percent of its uniformed personnel on patrol from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday through midnight on Sunday as part of the nationwide Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort, or C.A.R.E.
Troopers will be looking for speeding, reckless or impaired driving and people who failed to buckle seatbelts or properly restrain children.
Last year, 10,462 people were cited for speeding and 2,663 tickets were issued for reckless driving, according to State Police. More than 130 people were charged with impaired driving.
The agency, along with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is asking drivers to tie a red ribbon on their vehicle in a pledge to drive sober and use a seatbelt.
Last week, the State Police Fifth Division Headquarters in Chesapeake announced that troopers on motorcycles across Hampton Roads also will be increasing patrols during the holidays.
The effort, called Motor Enforcement Accident Reduction, or M.E.A.R., also includes the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office and Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach police departments.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Be careful with the new 70 mph speed limits
In the areas where the speed limit was increased to 70 mph you need to know there is still a law on the books that considers any driving over 80 mph as a serious ( 6 point ) infraction just as reckless driving. So although you might be ticketed for doing 10 over you will get hammered in fines and points.
What else is new?
The State police put out the same news release before EVERY holiday. Whoopie doo...You can't speed if you are stuck in gridlock.
More Government Intrusion.
Wow, what a country we live in. With cops on every corner waiting to bust you for any little thing, intrusive pat downs at the air ports, and surveillance cameras at most intersections, we are most definitely living in a police state now. Sure, living in a free society has its responsibilities and there will always be a few people who push the envelope, but how much of our freedom and time are we willing to give up in the name of nailing each and every law breaker for any little thing? I thought we’re in the USA, not China or North Korea. Yet, we’re worse than they are when it comes to citizen intrusion. Alas, I’m sure most posters here would rather have an RFID tag implanted under their skin to keep track of all laws broken, then you check into the precinct each week to download your discretions and go to jail accordingly. That seems to be the level of enforcement everyone here craves and dreams about.
Good call
But as long as they keep your drunken, reckless driving/speeding without a seatbelt driving tail away from me and my family, then Im all for it.
(Heres a hint)
If you are driving like you are supposed to, chances are you wont have any problems. :)
Point of view
" how much of our freedom and time are we willing to give up in the name of nailing each and every law breaker for any little thing?"
None, if it's a law/rule/regulation I don't agree with. All, if someone else breaks a law I agree with. Lets face it. That tailgater on my bumper makes me so nervous I can't concentrate on my texting, and I lose track of the cell phone conversation.
now, now...
I was able to follow you (though not entirely agree) until you said the folks in China or North Korea were better off... You, my friend, have alot to learn about the REAL world - not a made up fantasy about how bad we are & how good everyone else is. I really do hope you come to your senses before it's too late... Have a GREAT Thanksgiving!
Agreed...
Those kinds of comments always comes from a person who's never left U. S. airspace!
265 East Bound? Never heard of 265.
The speed limit of 55 mph on 264 is rediculous. The limit should be at least 65 mph. The commonwealth makes the speed limit only 55 mph so they can easily write speeding violations. They know that asking people to do 55 on an interstate is not going to happen. Never do I see people go 55 mph down 264 and when I have tried to do 55, I am getting ran off the road. I am originally from Colorado where the speed limit on interstates is 75 mph. Not everyone does 75, many do 60 or 65, but they can drive down the interstate without fear of being issued a speeding ticket. Virginia needs to raise the speed limit on 264 to 65 mph.
In reality, maybe it should
In reality, maybe it should be lowered to 45 mph then there might be less accidents and your chances of moving along without getting in a back up might improve. Raising the speed limits locally will do nothing more than cause accidents, more than we already have.
Read between the lines...
Holidays are a windfall because of all the out of state drivers that cannot make the court date. They say they do it because of safety reasons, but then why don't they patrol more during the weekdays looking for unsafe and reckless drivers?