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Patrols more common in spring break
Published Monday, March 16, 2009
Metro
Local police say drivers should use common sense when traveling on spring break, so they don’t take a trip to jail, instead of to the beach.
Spring breakers headed to the beach are beginning to flood local roadways, and three area law enforcement agencies guarding the major thoroughfares between them and the beach are issuing this direction — drive safe or you will get a ticket.
River Falls police chief Greg Jackson said he and his men patrol U.S. Hwy. 84 and State Hwy. 55 and see an estimated 10,000 cars during a typical spring break weekend.
“This weekend was a prime example,” Jackson said. “It was bumper to bumper traffic on Hwy. 55. That is a direct route to the beach, and we see our share of unsafe drivers.
“Spring break is the time to party down at the beach, and there are a few who take it to the extreme and combine the experience with alcohol and drugs. Those don’t mix.”
Jackson said his department’s main focus when patrolling is targeting unsafe drivers.
“That means if they are speeding, driving erratically, whatever,” he said. “The majority of what we see is speeders, those who are following to close and a lot of people weaving in and out of traffic. Those people are in a lot of a hurry to get nowhere.
“They need to remember to drive safe,” he said. “That beach is going to be there when they get there.”
During the coming weeks, Jackson said roadblocks and license checks would be conducted.
“So be on the lookout when coming through River Falls,” he said. “Folks should know, if you have drugs and alcohol, get ready for a trip to the county jail. We’ve made seven arrests for misdemeanor drug charges during the last week, and we’ll make more.”
Motorists along State Hwy. 29 should also be on the lookout, especially if they are spending their break on the waters of Gantt Lake.
Gantt Police Chief Chris Byrd said his department’s main concern will be targeting impaired drivers.
“Especially those underage and driving under the influence,” Byrd said. “For us, around the lake, drinking is a big problem. So, we’re going to be watching our roadways for any type of traffic violation such as driving on the wrong side of the road or improper lane use.
“Be safe and be cautious this spring break,” he said. “Oftentimes those out forget that it’s not just their lives they’re impacting, it’s everyone on the roadways.”
Travelers along State Hwy. 55 should be cautious when entering Lockhart, Chief John Davis said.
Outside of speeders, his department’s main concern will be enforcing Alabama’s window tint law.
“Speeding is the number one thing — no matter what roadway they’re traveling,” Davis said. “People need to slow down when coming through these small towns. That is the number one reason people get stopped.
“As for the tint law, if they are from Alabama, if their window tint is too dark, they can get stopped,” he said. “A general rule is if you can’t see the driver, it’s too dark. And that’ll get you stopped.”
Comments
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
" Outside of speeders,his department's main concern will be enforcing Alabama's window tint law." Hahah! Oh that was funny.
Posted by walnutwilly (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A little bit of advice to these small town cops.....enforce the law but don't take it to the extreme. With these spring breakers come added revenue to your towns. You don't want them finding another route next year just because you decided their tint is a little to dark. I drive from Montgomery to Defuniak Springs every other week.There is a certain town that I avoid due to a ticket I received last year for doing 42 in a 35 mph speed zone. If they needed money that bad I would have gladly just donated it to them rather then have it on my driving record.
Posted by justice (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
walnutwilly 42 in 35 is breaking the law, you think you get a free pass are you special or something?
Posted by gladtobefromandy (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thats right justice.. and these Florida people think they can speed through Andalusia and ride everyones bumper.. its really annoying. Anytime someones riding my bumper real bad.. 99% of the time. Its either Fl or Tennessee tag. I say get em apd.. Id rather them take a different route anyday.
Posted by walnutwilly (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I never said I wasn't breaking the law and no, I'm not that special, but considering the almost perfect driving record I have I think a warning would have been enough to slow me down a bit. I don't have any hard feelings though. There is more then one way to Defuniak.
Posted by lee (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well walnut , you should have went to court and fought your ticket. You could have asked to go to driving school to keep your driving record clean...
Posted by gypsy1 (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You got that right lookeyhere!! Its alright for "all their buddies" to have illegal tint- but they want to write everyone else up for it- Totally ridiculous!!
Posted by chad_long22 (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sounds like gyspy is jealous for people who have buddies in law enforcement. I don't have any buddies, dont break the law and you will not get a ticket break the law and you will. How hard is that to do.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would a police car need tinted windows? I mean come on,its not like the car could be used for undercover work, you could tell its a police car.
Posted by Jim (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey walnut willy, I agree with you bud. Heck, you can ask a cop about the speed limit, and most of them will tell you, that they'lll give you 5 miles over the limit, and some may be a little more lenient than that. But yeh, when one is speeding, no matter how much, they can write tickets. But what really burns me up is when you see them (cops) breaking the law, as in speeding (when they're not in pursuit) or making a u-turn (which I've seen several times) or flipping on their blue lights just to go under a red light, then turn them back off. That absolutely kills me. So with all the things that they get away with, then yes, everyone should be given at least 5 miles over the speed limit w/o even being stopped. Then if over that, just give a warning.
Posted by SEAN (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
omg...negativity toward the police...wrong move on this website. no matter how many times you can point out (with proof) how many of the officers do such things, then turn around and arrest you or ticket you for doing it, you should always keep your mouth shut. these folks are very protective of the police dept. according to most, its justified when an officer does it and when you say something about getting caught doing it, they tell you you shouldn't get caught. yet nobody can explain why its ok for the police to do it. i mean, that badge is a scary piece of metal. but, however, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, that officer is just the same as you and i. just as this one deputy in geneva county. did that badge save that officers family? no. it sure didn't. thats why, because of that, is why they give recognition to that officer so often. he wasn't SUPERMAN without the badge.
Posted by ANDALUSIA222 (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by SEAN (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 2:10 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ANDALUSIA222 (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by gladtobefromandy (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sean.. thats a really awful thing to say to someone. I see fussing and all.. but its not cool when you bring someones family into it. You should be ashamed.
Posted by hdsd (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SEAN, so sad you have such anger toward law enforcement. But as has been said to put ones family into your blogs, can only speak for how sad of a life you must have .GROW UP, and may god bless you ,for you need it it appears. Life is to short for you to have such anger.,sad,sad, so sad.
Posted by n4aweek (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SEAN, Maybe the windows are tinted because the officers are in those cars 8-10 hours per day. I don't know about you, but in South Alabama in can get warm inside a vehicle during the summer. Your ignorance and lack of class is telling with the comment about the officers family. What happened there could happen to anyone at anytime. Who are you going to call on for help if happened to you? Mom?
Posted by SEAN (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why is everybody coming at me like this? there were 11 comments previous to mine about what the law does wrong and i just agreed but didn't say anything about them whatsoever. and you guys single me out and attack me? i apolagize to everybody about what i said. that andalusia 222 gets on and calls me out and calls me names every time i post. im tired of it. my opinions are just as good as his and hers and yours too. you don't have to agree. its not required. i certainly let people know when i agree and disagree. then look what happens. people call me names...then everybody ignores 11 comments about law breaking the law and i simply agree and get called names for it. then when i retaliate...(in a childish manner) im wrong for it. what should i do?
Posted by tankmaster (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sean....are you an illegal immigrant..you dont know much about nothing really, Habla Espanol... speakee englash....Every comment I read from you is senseless, thoughtless and has no intelligent organization. This forum is not meant for that kind of bull....Dont break laws and you wont get tickets....pretty simple....
Posted by gladtobefromandy (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sean i wasnt attacking you about the cop situation.. Im glad that comment was removed.. But.. I do agree with you.. some cops think they can SPEED, RIDE YOUR BUMPER all the time. I've had a cop ride my bumper..ask me out his window to pull over and then yell in my face. All because i didnt get out of his way. (this was on the bypass where theres TWO lanes) So yeah.. some of them are rookie cops that think their God. Btw.. this was county. =)
Posted by gladtobefromandy (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
one more thing.. there is some really awesome cops around here, and some really awesome county ones. I was showing you how some are. Maybe you just had a bad experience with one of the butt ones.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
n4aweek..." Maybe the windows are tinted because the officers are in those cars 8-10 hours per day." You know you could be right. Why not let the truck drivers that run the south, tint there windows?
Posted by n4aweek (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Window tint is allowed. Maybe not as dark as you would like it,but it is legal to a certain point.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am talking about some of the police cars that have illegal tint. Why can't I have that on my truck?
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This particular stream of comments has all the characteristics of a Jerry Springer marathon.
Posted by godwint (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw carloads of kids last week going through River Falls with Minnesota and Wisonsin liscense plates! That is a LONG TRIP just to go to Spring Break!! I just pray they all make it back home safely.
Posted by BerthaBelle (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This forum must be the worst thing which could have happened to Andalusia and Covington County in quite sometime. Have advertising sales gotten so bad at the Star-News they have to resort to such lows as allowing the obviously ignorant uneducated portion of our society to speak in a public forum and continually direct attention at how damn ignorant they really are? Way to go Mr. Boone! You have managed to succeed in allowing money to once again overrule sanity in your newspaper and company websites. You'd better start paying attention to what predictions are about news print. It is going away! And your company may not be exempt from those statistics! I can't wait to read the first Federal Lawsuit and/or class-action suit which WILL be filed against your company as a result of this gross-negligence. Believe me, it is coming! I believe I hear that train a-coming-coming round the bend-Oh-wait, is that the light I see? You bedda axe somebody-you better ask somebody! Ha-Ha-Ha!
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