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Traffic blitz set for holiday season
Published Wednesday, November 25, 2009
More than 33 million people are expected to be on the roadways during this Thanksgiving holiday, according to a report from the AAA Auto Club. And locally, law enforcement will be doing their part to make sure any of those 33 million motorists traveling through Covington County are obeying the traffic laws.
Chief Deputy David Anderson said Sheriff’s Office deputies will once again be participating in a holiday traffic blitz, targeting impaired drivers.
“We say the same thing each holiday season — we want motorists to arrive safely to their holiday destination,” Anderson said. “And our deputies will be doing their part to monitor the roadways to ensure that happens.”
The initiative, which is funded by the Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs, will end Tues., Nov. 31.
“We’ve got four major arteries that come through Covington County — Alabama 55, U.S. Hwy. 84 and 331 and Alabama 29 — each major connector routes between large cities and the coast line,” he said. “We will be on the lookout for speeders and impaired drivers along those areas, as well as the county roads, during this overtime detail.”
AAA’s report, which was released Wednesday, surveyed 1,350 households and said there will be about 33.2 million people traveling by car this year — a 2.1 percent increase from last year.
But there will be a 6.7 percent decrease in the number of air travelers, totaling 2.3 million this year and continuing a decade-long decline of Thanksgiving air travel.
AAA officials said the expected increase reflects improved consumer confidence from a year ago, when Thanksgiving travel dropped 25 percent.
Comments
Posted by sayitaintso (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
beware?
yea...santa has brought the county a new super cop.
you the man JD!
Posted by divarty1 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They will be standing at road blocks harrassing citizens without any probable cause. Citizens also need to beware of the APD and certain State Troopers who will also profile or make an excuse to stop citizens for no reason.
Posted by whereisthecommonsense (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What an interesting comment. Personally I have no problem stopping and letting these officers check my info. Seems to me if you arent doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about.
Posted by cottoncandy (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When did November acquire a 31st day?
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL! cottoncandy. Remember we do live in the twilight zone in Covington County.
Posted by coulditbe (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well... anywhere else besides alabama and florida... a "road block" is UNHEARD of. it isn't the fact that you have something to worry about. the point is WHY? do they not have anything better to do? how bout wash some cop cars. or maybe clean up that dump where they house inmates. maybe get a LIFE! that would be better. and andalusia star news needs to recycle some people that work there! such as: STEPHANIE! who makes stuff up to come up with some to write about. whether she was given the wrong info or not. MAKE SURE YOUR FACTS ARE STRAIGHT LADY!
Posted by knos (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Never ending roadblocks since November 31st will never come??? As was pointed out earlier there is no 31st day in November...
Wow.
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Being stopped at a roadblock does'nt bother me in the least. If it gets one drunk driver off the roads I and my loved ones travel...then stop me every 10 miles.
I dont drink and drive, dont do drugs or transport drugs, have a valid license, have liability insurance and a current tag, and have a healthy respect for the law enforcement officers of the area so I dont have any reason to not be checked. It is for the good and welfare of the law abiding citizen.
Posted by Patrick (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The police should be ensuring everyone arrives safely, not ensuring everyone obeys the laws. The quote in this paper following Labor Day’s blitz kind of summed up the approach local law enforcement takes. “Revenues were down because the state increased the speed limit on 84 between Andalusia and Opp.”
Law enforcement persons in Covington County have always treated me fairly. I can’t say the same for my children. They were harassed so much that none of them will even consider living in the county. The strong emphasis on stopping drinking and driving has always seemed rooted in the Baptist Churches opposition to drinking more than the reality of drunk drivers causing problems. Speeding is involved in more accidents, in any jurisdiction than alcohol. When my son was stopped for DUI and found to be below the limit he was fined $700+ for an illegal lane change on 84 (failing to signal before he changed lanes).
I hope to see the officers out ensuring the safety of everyone during the holidays.
Posted by aub4ever (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
just another damn way for them to harrasse us. Getting drunkj drivers are ok but they are going to mess with everyone drunk or not.. aggravate everyone. These things suck. idots
Posted by gladtobefromandy (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
aub.. are you drunk?
Posted by blogwatcher (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
B&HG.....I agree with you totaly....but obviously you are above the age of 65. It is not this way now. We DO NOT have honest officers now. Its all about the " notch in the belt". Ask any lawyer....it's to the officers discresion. YOU say drunk driver.... let me inform you that if a person "blows a zero" on there monitor or whatever you call that thing....its still to the officers discresion. They can still arrest you for....whatever....be it a gilted wife with another man, a bad school friend or...etc...trust me....some people never forget.
Posted by lulubell (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 5:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't drink or do illegal drugs and I am not over 55. I have full coverage insurance. I don't mind them stopping me to check me.
B&HG I am with you on this one. If it keeps me safe from a drunk driver I say bring on the traffic blitz.....
Posted by andalusiacitizen (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually no, they can't just arrest you for anything, Blogwatcher. I swear, everytime one of these articles comes out that has something to do with law enforcement doing their job, so many people have such negative things to say about them. As a few have said above, if you are doing the correct thing and following the law and speed limits, then you should not have a problem with being stopped. It helps me tremendously to know that these people are out at all hours of the day and night, and on holidays, keeping our streets safe. As biscuits said, if it gets one drunk driver off the road, then I'm very happy. Who's to say that if this drunk driver was let to go, that it wouldn't be the car that hit you and something tragic happened on a holiday? No one wants that and that's why these departments do these types of things. Not to harass us, but to keep people safe on these wonderful holidays when all most people want to do is spend quality time with family and friends. But, you still have those few that think a good time is drinking, then getting behind the wheel. I'll never understand why people don't just stay put and have fun with their feet on the ground, instead of on the pedals of a car.
Also, how would you like it if you had to work all day or all night on Thanksgiving? There are people that do in retail or other walks of business, but not too many. These officers get out on all holidays, not getting these days off like so many of us do. They are out there working to keep us safe just so people like so many of you can sit there and complain about a few minutes worth of a road block. I'm sure they would love to be with their families, just as we are, but they have a duty and an oath to fulfill to the people of this city and county. If you have a problem with a certain officer, let their superior know. It's called a complaint. You complain to store managers when store associates are rude, so why sit back and complain and put all these officers in the same boat because of one? There are bad eggs in every type of career, but that does NOT mean that they are all bad or all liars or all cheats. OBEY THE LAW and you won't have a problem; if you do, file a complaint. The majority of the officers in this city and county would do anything for anybody but they get such a bad reputation because the only time so many people have an encounter with them is when the citizen is doing something wrong, and, of course, wants to place the blame elsewhere because "they weren't doing anything wrong".
BE THANKFUL for our officers. I know I am everyday and night!
And no, I am nowhere near the age of 65. I just obey the law and I'm thankful that there are people that are willing to take that oath and protect the place I live and all the people in it, including the people that have only negative things to say about them.
THANKS GUYS!!
Posted by sayitaintso (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
garbage collectors are off today...maybe the "popo" need to shoot for a higher career.
jd you the man!
Posted by DarrylDavis (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If folks ride around on Ceaser's roads and think that they will not have to pay any tribute to the centurians and Rome , they might want to consider why they had to get a license to drive (permission slip) on Ceaser's roads in the first place. Government , always there to suck up a fast buck when you need them to. If folks want to steal from others it is advisable to get a license first, and maybe a uniform.
Posted by scobb (anonymous) on November 30, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. You people are ridiculous. Yes, I hate going through road blocks. Its annoying. However, it is needed. Don't have any outstanding warrants, drugs, or be drunk, and you should be good. I've never had a police officer "harrass" me at a road block. And to the person that said road blocks are unheard of outside of Alabama and Florida, you're even more ridiculous. And no, I'm not 65 years old either. Yes, there are quite a few officers out there that should NOT be, but for the most part, they are there to protect you all. So, get off of your high horse and be thankful that the good ones that decided to be police officers and serve the people of this county. The good ones do out number the bad.
http://blogs.ktk985.com/stormandchris/20...
Posted by DarrylDavis (anonymous) on November 30, 2009 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We the people put blind faith in government as far as the law goes and a right to travel turned into a privilege requiring a license. We the people put blind faith in government again and now a car is considered illegal if it does not have a government license plate with sticker. We the ignorant people put blind faith in government again and mandatory insurance was another burden placed on we the people. Now according to this article We the stupid people are saying " government please pull us over and fine us for driving our expensive to keep up barely legal motor car so if we navigate the car as to make an error or run up on a gestapo check point to show our papers, so that we can keep even less of what we make at our low paying job. Now instead of we the people , in reality it is of the government for the government and by the government.This is Alabama not Germany 1939 ; Adolph Hitler would be proud.
Posted by andalusiacitizen (anonymous) on December 2, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, Darryl. Alright, we've got it. The government and all departments with ties to the government are all out to get you! You've figured it out. Seriously?
Could you possibly imagine what the driving world would be like without all these regulations? You'd have 9 year olds behind the wheel!! Yes, let's take away the driver's license rules. How would you like it if your car was stolen? It's registered to you!!! That's what a tag is for!! (Saying this, I do have to agree that the prices are ridiculous, but tags are necessary.) Insurance.....would you like to pay out of pocket for your car if it gets wrecked, or better yet, pay for someone else's car after you run into them?? Follow the rules. Yes, rules. We do have to have them, believe it or not. Most people abide by them and do well by them, but you go on living in your little world, where no control and no order is needed whatsoever and let us know how that works out.
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