Island traffic patrol leads to79 citations

Published 5:49 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Speeding tickets were the rule on May 6 when the Bainbridge Island Police Department did its annual traffic emphasis patrol on the island.

Bainbridge officers worked with a Washington State Patrol officer, two Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies and one Port Orchard officer to focus on illegal cell phone usage, improper seat belt use, crosswalk infractions and speeding violations between noon and 6 p.m. on May 6.

Of the 79 traffic citations: 44 were for speeding; nine for improper seat belt usage; three for illegal cell phone use; two for school zone speeding; 13 for driving without a license, vehicle insurance or expired license plates; one for driving inattentively, which resulted in an accident; and seven for other equipment or license violations.

The police department also issued one felony arrest and 50 verbal warnings for violations, including failure to use turn signals or equipment violations.

Four officers in street clothing also conducted a traffic survey, which tallied 30 cell phone and 48 seat belt violations that weren’t ticketed.

Police Cmdr. Sue Shultz said that four citizens contacted the department to thank them for the increased enforcement and for the traffic emphasis.

Shultz said resources were taken away from the traffic emphasis for 40 minutes due to a three-car motor vehicle collision on State Route 305 at Hidden Cove.