Published: July 02, 2009 09:15 am      

Local police increase patrols during holiday

Law enforcement agencies across the state will be increasing traffic enforcement over the July 4 holiday weekend, and local police agencies will join in the crackdown.

The state transportation cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety announced last week that officers statewide will be targeting drunk drivers during a four-day period of increased enforcement between today and July 5.

Both the Richmond and Berea police departments will have increased patrols focusing on traffic violations, according to department spokespeople.

“We’ll have people working overtime checking for violations and minor infractions,” said Sgt. Willard Reardon, Richmond Police Department spokesman.

“We’ll have what we call saturation patrols, where we have one or two units out doing nothing but looking for violations,” said Capt. Ken Clark, Berea Police Department spokesman.

Patrols for both departments will be paid for through federal highway safety grants.

Clark said the Berea department would not set up checkpoints because it gives the department more flexibility and allows it to target drivers across the city.

Reardon said Richmond police would have a number of officers at Lake Reba for the July Fourth celebration, but also would be patrolling throughout the weekend.

“If you’re going to a Fourth of July party, make sure someone will be OK to drive, because we will be out looking for impaired drivers,” Reardon said.

The state is also preparing a traffic safety campaign to begin July 20 in 37 counties that have had four or more traffic fatalities.

Through June 10, five traffic-related fatalities have occurred in Madison County, according to state highway safety officials. Statewide, 374 people have been killed on roadways, five fewer than through the same period last year.

That effort will focus primarily on the areas in each county where the most fatalities have occurred, officials said.

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.