MLPD to enforce red light compliance

Emphasis seeks to curb number of motorists running stoplights and signs

MOSES LAKE — City motorists are again seeing red and not caring about it. The Moses Lake Police Department is trying to stop that trend.

A traffic emphasis has been taking place this week hoping to curb the number of motorists running red lights or stop signs.

This is not the first crusade of the kind held by the Moses Lake Police Department this year, but instead, it is part of an effort sparked by complaints from the public.

Capt. Jim Jenkins said these types of campaigns are scheduled according to complaints received by the department from the citizens, particularly the repeated incidents of run red lights on downtown streets.

The way these campaigns work, Jenkins said, is by saturating an area of the city with police units from the MLPD, the Washington State Patrol and the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

"We saturate an area we feel is causing problems with a certain type of violation," he said. "We concentrate on those violations and see if we can impact the problem." The emphasis has proven to be an effective deterrent, he said.

One of the reasons for this effectiveness is the $101 fine applied to those caught running a red light or a stop sign.

"I certainly would not want to pay that for being in a bit of a hurry," he said. "It's a high price to pay for being 10 seconds early to work."

Aiding the law enforcement officials' cause are the blue-light detectors placed in certain stoplights through the city, helping alert officers of violators.

This emphasis will try to hit the high traffic areas during peak traffic hours, Jenkins said. This not only means the early evening rush hours, but the heavy morning traffic, as well.

Potential target areas were not disclosed. The emphasis ends this Saturday.