Traffic Services
2008 was a very busy year for the Traffic Services Section. In addition to the routine traffic enforcement duties, this section also planned, coordinated, and participated in over 80 special events. Officers were also very busy working the numerous construction zones as the city underwent another year of extensive construction projects.
The Red Light Camera program implemented in May 2004 continues to be a valid community program by reducing the number of red light violations in 2008. A total of 5,132 citations were issued in 2008, up slightly from the 5,045 citations issued in 2007. The two Traffic Case Investigators handled 1,576 cases involving hit-and-run crashes, reckless driving complaints, and serious injury and fatality crashes. The TCIs also assisted the field Traffic and Parks Officers by working many different special events throughout the course of the year. All members of the section worked on a wide array of duties during 2008 to include, but are not limited to:
- 30 house moves
- 509 funeral escorts
- Provided security or traffic control for over 80 special events in downtown Sioux Falls, parks, bike trails, and the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds.
The Traffic Section made an application to the State of South Dakota Office of Highway Safety for grant funds to continue the fight toward ridding the highways of the drinking and impaired driver. These funds are used to buy equipment and pay the wages of additional officers to arrest the drinking driver and enforce the seat belt and other traffic laws to make the highways and streets a safer place for all motorists. With the grant funds in 2008, Traffic Services conducted 8 separate saturation patrols. With an average of 8 additional officers working these patrols, 60 individuals were arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), and 194 seat belt and 414 speeding citations were written, for a total of 1,046 citations issued during the saturation patrols. (Traffic Officers assisted the South Dakota Highway Patrol with two of their sobriety checkpoints resulting in 11 DWI additional arrests.)
The Traffic Services Section is also responsible for patrolling the city’s park system. Three Parks Officers patrol and monitor the over 70 developed city parks, enforcing the laws as necessary. The officers utilize motorcycles, an ATV, and marked patrol units to cover the 20-plus miles of bike trails, Great Bear Ski Resort, and five community centers throughout the city. The officers also assist traffic officers working special events, funeral escorts, and enforcement projects throughout the year. The Motor Unit consists of seven Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycles that are utilized daily, seven months of the year. The Motor Unit is involved in traffic enforcement, funeral escorts, special events, patrolling the city’s bike trails, and assisting the Parks Officers as needed.
The South Dakota Law Enforcement Training Center provided funding in 2008 for an 80-hour Police Motorcycle Operators course and two 16-hour recertification courses. Lt. Jerome Miller and Officer Bret Hamlyn from Traffic Services were the instructors for the courses. Police officers from Vermillion PD, Sioux Falls PD, Watertown PD, and Aberdeen PD completed the Police Motorcycle Operators training. Eighteen “Motor Officers” completed the 16-hour recertification courses. These officers came from Fargo, ND, PD; The Iowa Department of Public Safety; Madison PD; Sioux Falls PD; Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office; and Brookings and Vermillion PD.
