A few weeks ago, local law enforcement coordinated with our state law enforcement partners for what is known as High Visibility Enforcement. This is a statewide initiative supported by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation based on traffic citation and motor vehicle crash data.
During this enforcement effort, we focused our resources on educating our community about safe driving practices and vehicle equipment laws. We also utilized K-9 units from our partner agencies to detect and deter drug trafficking and drug abuse within Kewaunee County.
This operation resulted in 70 traffic stops, during which K-9s were deployed on 19 occasions. Those stops resulted in citations for the following violations:
- Operating without a valid license
- Operating while suspended
- Speeding
- Failure to provide proof of insurance
- Failure to fasten a seat belt
- Possession of open intoxicants
- Failure to register a motor vehicle
- Passing in a no-passing zone
- Possession of THC
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
In addition, those contacts resulted in 11 criminal charges or arrests for the following offenses:
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Operating while intoxicated (alcohol)
- Operating while intoxicated (drugs)
- Resisting or obstructing an officer
- Operating without a valid license
- Operating while revoked
Although the violations listed above are ones we deal with on a daily basis, our ability to focus on traffic enforcement and related criminal violations is limited by our day-to-day staffing levels. These enforcement events are intended to increase awareness of traffic laws and improve compliance with the laws designed to keep our community safe.
For those who were negatively impacted by our enforcement efforts because of the choices they made, we hope this serves as motivation for positive change. To everyone else, thank you for making good decisions and helping keep our roads safe.
