By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson police stepped up traffic enforcement last year, more than doubling the number of citations for speeding and other driving offenses. The crackdown also led to increases in other kinds of citations, as officers discovered outstanding warrants, or observed drug or alcohol violations in the course of traffic stops.

The data released by the town this week show an overall increase in reported crimes, though there was little or no change in more serious categories such as assaults and residential break-ins.

Police issued 2,164 traffic tickets last year, up from 1,032 in 2006, according to figures released Monday by the police department. Speeding fines were up from 519 in 2006 to 1,021 last year, primarily due to ticketing on major streets, including Main and Griffith streets and Concord Road. On Griffith Street, 444 tickets were issued last year, up from 61.

Warnings, in which no fines were levied, were also up.

Over the past year, the town has put radar units in nearly every patrol car and made traffic enforcement a priority. In some cases, police also are enforcing new, lower speed limits. On Griffith Street, for example, the town took over a portion of the road from the state in January 2007 and lowered the posted speed limit to 25 miles per hour.

“We’ve been listening to citizens and what we have heard consistently is ‘Can you do something about residential speeding?’ ” Police Chief Jeanne Miller said in an interview Monday. “You’re starting to see the fruition of those efforts.”

GOAL: SAFER ROADS

Chief Miller came to Davidson in November 2005, and began hearing that residents were eager for greater speed limit enforcement.

In last fall’s citizen survey about quality of life and other concerns, 75 percent of those responding supported the idea of funding “traffic calming initiatives.” Traffic issues in general were rated as one of the town’s major problems.

Laurie Venzon

Town Board member Laurie Venzon welcomed Monday’s report, and said it shows the police department is enforcing speed limits and other traffic laws. “In my opinion, it’s showing people we are serious in making this a safe community to walk and ride and be out and about,” Ms. Venzon said Monday.

The statistics released Monday show an increase in the number of traffic accidents reported, from 156 in 2006 to 219 in 2007. But the number that caused injuries fell from 23 to 20.

It’s not surprising that the number of accidents increased, because the town’s population is growing, as is the number of cars on town streets, Chief Miller said. But she thinks the town can have a positive influence through street design, speed limits and enforcement.

“The police department cannot control the number of vehicles moving through town streets,” she said. “The fact that despite an increase in accidents we didn’t have a like increase in the number of injuries tells me that new street designs and traffic enforcement are having the desired effect.”

One side effect of the crackdown is the increase in tickets being issued to Davidson residents. Those who live here are most likely to be on local roads, and so just as likely to get tickets.

“It is us, in many instances,” Chief Miller acknowledged. But she hopes over the long run increased enforcement will lead to safer streets. “Does getting a traffic ticket make you a criminal? Absolutely not. It’s a wakeup call,” she said.

TOTAL CRIME REPORTS UP

Overall last year, reported crimes increased from 212 to 251. Larcenies (any kind of theft) showed one of the largest increases, from 15 in 2006 to 39 in 2007. Drug possession reports totaled 11, up from just 1 in 2006.

But some other categories were unchanged or even slightly improved. There were 14 assaults reported last year, down one from the year before. Residential break-ins fell one, to 20, while stolen cars fell two, to 6.

Overall arrests were up from 163 to 242. In some categories, the number of arrests rose as a direct result of beefed-up traffic enforcement, Chief Miller said.

Arrests for driving while impaired rose from 29 to 51. Forty-two people were charged with driving while their licenses were revoked, up from 30.

The number of people arrested on outstanding warrants, meaning they were wanted in Davidson or other towns on previous charges, rose from 11 to 24. The town said 25 people were charged with possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, up from 10 the year before.
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The complete crime and traffic citation statistics from 2006 and 2007 are available on the town website. CLICK HERE>