{"id":51917,"date":"2020-08-26T11:47:17","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T17:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/farmington-police-grace-period-is-over-traffic-enforcement-steps-up\/"},"modified":"2020-08-26T17:47:17","modified_gmt":"2020-08-26T17:47:17","slug":"farmington-police-grace-period-is-over-traffic-enforcement-steps-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/farmington-police-grace-period-is-over-traffic-enforcement-steps-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmington police: Grace period is over, traffic enforcement steps up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Farmington
Farmington Police Department officer P. White uses a laser to check the speeds of vehicles on East Main Street on Aug. 15 in Farmington. The agency has noticed an uptick in speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving and street racing after officers tried to \u201clay low\u201d on minor traffic offenses during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Farmington drivers have developed a bit of a lead foot during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

Overall traffic volume was significantly reduced in late March and most of April when New Mexico issued a stay-at-home order to minimize the spread of COVID-19. During that time, the Farmington Police Department also initiated fewer traffic stops to limit exposure for minor violations, said Nicole Brown, spokeswoman with the agency.<\/p>\n

But since then, there has been an uptick in the number of people speeding, street racing and drunken driving, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMinor violations were turning into more major violations,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n

Since then, Farmington police have stepped up traffic enforcement.<\/p>\n

\"Farmington
Farmington Police Department Sgt. A. Aikele works in his cruiser on Aug. 15 in Farmington. Officers plan to step up traffic enforcement after noticing an uptick in the number of speeders, drunken drivers and street racers.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Farmington
Farmington Police Department officer P. White uses a laser to check the speeds of vehicles on East Main Street on Aug. 15 in Farmington.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

During a three-day period from July 31 to Aug. 2, Farmington police issued more than 140 citations and made seven arrests for driving while impaired.<\/p>\n

Among the drunken driving arrests was Anthony Chee, 46, of Kirtland. Police said Chee\u2019s car was stopped in the middle of an intersection early Aug. 1. Officers contacted him and arrested him on suspicion of his 14th DWI in New Mexico, Brown said.<\/p>\n

Officers also arrested Mariesa Avalos, 20, of Kirtland and Amorea Vigil, 18, of Farmington on suspicion of street racing. Avalos was cited two hours earlier on multiple traffic violations. At least three more people have been arrested this month for street racing, Brown said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always kind of had people that will street race, but it was really picking up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Durango Police Department also backed off \u201cnon-egregious\u201d traffic stops during March and April when a stay-at-home order was in effect, said Cmdr. Rita Warfield, spokeswoman with the agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the time, there was hardly any traffic, the streets were bare and officers did not contact drivers unless it was a suspected DUI, reckless or aggressive driving in order to lessen contact for both officers and citizens,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Now that restrictions have lifted or eased, Warfield said traffic volume has picked up, leading to an increase in crashes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to monitor traffic when officers are not tied up on calls, and do respond to problem areas when citizens contact us about excessive speed issues,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen school starts up, we will be monitoring school zones and will cite drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Farmington
Farmington Police Department officer P. White drives on East Main Street on Aug. 15 in Farmington. The police department produced a video and made yard signs warning drivers to slow down.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The Farmington Police Department produced a video letting residents know officers will be stepping up traffic enforcement. The agency also made yard signs residents can place in their neighborhoods that read: \u201cSlow down Farmington, take your time, not a life.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the video, Chief Steve Hebbe says officers tried to \u201clay low\u201d and stay healthy by keeping their distance. \u201cBut lately, we\u2019ve been seeing speeds picking up across Farmington,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been getting more complaints of traffic, more complainants of speeding and reckless driving, and we\u2019ve even had a couple of, unfortunately, very serious crashes occur around town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hebbe said he gave officers the green light to begin \u201caggressive enforcement of traffic laws.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown said every police department deals with a degree of traffic violations, but when they become more serious \u2013 high speeds, street racing, reckless driving and drunken driving \u2013 that is when the agency must be more proactive.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people are driving slower, your crashes that do occur are less lethal,\u201d Brown said. \u201cSo it\u2019s all about decreasing those fatalities as much as we can. \u2026 We just want everyone to be safe. When people are moving too quickly, the accidents truly do become deadly. Our main message is for everyone to slow down.\u201d<\/p>\n

shane@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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