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Traffic Blitzes Being Funded By Grants in Wheeling, Rest of Northern Panhandle

Traffic stop blitzes made by the Wheeling Police Department signal its continued participation in the Governor’s Highway Safety Program that provides federal money for extra, focused patrols.

For example, Wheeling police made a significant number of traffic stops — 18 — in just over eight hours, between 4:12 p.m. Thursday and 1:29 a.m. Friday. Officers also made a significant amount of traffic stops on Tuesday — 21 in about four and a half hours.

While police are always on the lookout for violations, this month’s focus is on distracted driving, said police department spokesman Philip Stahl.

Melissa Taylor of the Northern Regional Highway Safety Office in Wheeling said the program provides money and guidelines for patrols, but it’s up to each department to determine when and where the additional patrols will benefit their communities. Taylor coordinates the program for 27 departments, from Taylor to Hancock counties.

Patrols guidelines for this month are:

∫ 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. — driving under the influence;

∫ 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. — distracted driving; and

∫ 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. — seat belt enforcement.

That means a police department must schedule the blitz — even if it’s brief — during those times, Taylor said. A patrol could include many officers, or only one officer on patrol, Taylor said, noting the schedule includes an overlap period from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. during which departments may focus on all three types of patrols — or any one of the three.

Details aren’t available regarding the purposes for most of the stops made, but the information provided does show the locations of those stops. Six of the 18 traffic stops were made along Interstate 70, six were downtown on Main and Market streets and there were one each on Wheeling Island, and in Springdale, Elm Grove and Woodsdale.

However, the department released details of one of the traffic stops that occurred at 4:41 p.m. on I-70 east at mile marker 3. In that incident, an officer and his K-9 initiated a traffic stop for reckless driving, and ended up issuing the female driver a summons for reckless driving and possession of heroin.

Stahl said Thursday that most stops do have a citation associated with them, “so that (the department’s participation in the program) creates awareness on distraction driving, and more.”

Tuesday’s cluster of 21 traffic stops within four and a half hours was during the program’s scheduled distracted driving, and seat belt enforcement patrols timeframe. Most of those, 18, occurred on Wheeling Island — including 11 along Zane Street — while the others were downtown.

Among the state program’s well-known national blitzes include “Click It Or Ticket,” “Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over,” and Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

Following are the most recent traffic stop calls that police released. They were made from 8:31 a.m. Thursday through 1:29 a.m. Friday:

Friday

∫ 1:29 a.m., 900 block of National Road.

∫ 12:15 a.m., 1400-block of Market Street.

∫ 12:11 a.m., 1400-block of Market Street.

∫ 12:01 a.m., 700 block of National Road.

Thursday

∫ 11:45 p.m., 800 block of National Road.

∫ 11:40 a.m., Mil Acres Drive.

∫ 11:15 p.m., Seventh and Market streets.

∫ 11:04 p.m., 700 block of Market Street.

∫ 11:03 p.m., Highland Park and Lincoln Drive.

∫ 10:59 p.m., North 24th Street.

∫ 10 p.m., I-70 west.

∫ 7:27 p.m., I-70 west.

∫ 7:11 p.m., I-70 east.

∫ 7:01 p.m., Main Street.

∫ 5:45 p.m., I-70 east.

∫ 4:43 p.m., I-70 east.

∫ 4:41 p.m., I-70 east.

∫ 4:12 p.m., I-70 east.

∫ 8:55 a.m., Main Street.

∫ 8:31 a.m., Main Street.

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