By Joe Johnson
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department this month will conduct vehicle checkpoints on local roadways in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
According to department policy, the checkpoints will be publicized via social media by and by press release.
“Traffic enforcement, along with education, is an effective way to reduce speed and prevent
crashes. We hope these checkpoints will encourage drivers to slow down, focus on driving, and not drive impaired,” said Sgt. Vincent Schill, a member of the ACCPD Traffic Unit and organizer of the checkpoints
The checkpoints are scheduled to operate on July 21 from 8 p.m. t8 midnight.
For officer safety reasons the specific locations of the checkpoints will not be announced in advance of the opening, according to police.
After the operation, a media release and social media post will detail the activity. Also, while having contact
with drivers, officers will hand out an educational flyers with local statistics and that addresses why
ACCPD conducts vehicle checkpoints.
Additional ACC traffic data is available at our transparency website:
The commander of the Traffic Unit is Lt. Jay Butt, 762-400-7090, john.butt@accgov.com
and the checkpoint organizer is Sgt. Vincent Schill, 762-400-7092, vincent.schill@accgov.com .
It's crucial to ensure that these operations prioritize the safety and rights of citizens. It's not just about compliance; it's about ensuring trust and mutual respect between officials and the community. On a related note, for those facing vehicle inspections, I'd recommend checking and upgrading your suspension components. Quality coilover parts can not only improve vehicle performance but can also ensure your vehicle remains compliant with any safety standards. Stay safe, everyone!
Please write more citations for speeding and following too closely. Defensive driving and following 4 or more seconds behind other cars is laughed at. I was driving (the speed limit) through a STATE PARK this week and someone was following me about six inches off my bumper. THIS WAS IN A CROWDED STATE PARK! I am 100% in favor of police checkpoints for this purpose. DRIVING IS NOT A RIGHT, IT IS A PRIVILEGE.
These checkpoints always catch intoxicated drivers, too. Take drunk/high drivers off the road and suspend their licenses FOREVER.