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Higher traffic enforcement on NC-105 leads to more citations |
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
by EDWARD SZTUKOWSKI
Intern News Reporter
The Boone Police department designated NC-105 a specific traffic enforcement zone April 14.
A specific traffic enforcement zone is an area with higher than average police presence. The area will specifically look for motorists who are speeding or are committing traffic violations.
The need for the zone was determined after NC-105 had a speed limit change from 45 mph to 35 mph.
 As the speed limit on NC-105 changes from 45 mph to 35 mph, students and locals will have to slow down during their commute to avoid speeding tickets. Boone Police has named NC-105 a specific traffic enforcement zone. Photo by Jameykay Young
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The speed limit change was put into motion due to the high amount of traffic complaints, crashes and violations.
One of the major reasons for the change in speed directly relates to the death of Drew Newell, who was
killed last thanksgiving by a drunk driver.
“We’ve always had a higher than average speed on NC-105,” police Capt. Curtis Main said. “We’ve had
to continue to deal with it for awhile, so it was finally decided that the speed limit needed to be
lowered.”
The speed limit change came two months ago, and the police have given motorists time to adjust
before cracking down harder. Each shift has an officer that
concentrates on traffic, and right now, NC-105 is a designated area.
“We went about four to six weeks giving people warnings to make the population aware of the change.
Now we’ve begun issuing citations,” said Main.
Since the crackdown began last Monday, the police department has seen a higher than average
amount of pull-overs, but nothing that is too significant.
The police researched NC-105 before setting up the traffic enforcement zone. They made sure they
knew what the busiest areas and busiest times were.
“There’s always rhyme and reason to what we do. We set up our officers at times we know traffic
safety is the greatest concern,” Main said.
While some citizens may dislike the change to speed limit and the traffic enforcement, Main stressed
that the police department’s goal is not to give out tickets.
“Our goal is to have the population realize the importance of traffic safety and voluntary compliance
with the law,” said Main.
While the police department and Boone town council feels that the speed limit change will reduce
accidents, students have offered voices of dissent.
“I don’t think it will change much, if anything, it may increase the amount of accidents,” said David
Stone, a sophomore history major. “What’s going to happen is some people will follow the new 35 mph
speed limit, but a lot of people will continue to go 55.”
The specific traffic enforcement zone will continue until April 28, whereupon NC-105 will undergo an
assessment. The assessment will determine if the zone was affective, and whether to continue it or
end it.
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