Cleveland Police Officer Denton Vaugh stops a driver for a hands-free driving violation on the Cleveland Square
(Cleveland) Officers with the Cleveland Police Department have stepped up their efforts to promote traffic safety and reduce vehicle accidents during the Christmas holiday season.
Cleveland Police Chief Jeff Shoemaker joined a concentrated traffic patrol Tuesday afternoon in the city focusing on where an increased number of vehicle accidents have occurred.
Officers were actively looking for impaired drivers, distracted drivers on their cell phones, equipment violations, seatbelt, and speed violations.
According to Shoemaker law enforcement officers across the state are participating in similar campaigns to make the roadways safer for those traveling during the holiday season.
After a two hour concentrated effort, Tuesday Shoemaker reported on how things went, “we gave a total of ten citations, 3 for hands-free violations, 2 for seatbelt violation, a child restraint violation, 1 tag or registration violation, a driver with a suspended license, an improper turn, open alcohol container and three warnings for miscellaneous violations.”
Chief Shoemaker said it was more than just writing tickets, “ We hopefully have made some good contacts and hopefully we’ve made some of the drivers a little more aware of some safe practices while out here on the roads.”
Shoemaker pointed out that there have been over 1,700 fatal accidents on the roadways in Georgia in 2021 and in over 700 of those accidents the drivers were not wearing seatbelts.
