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Checkpoint makes sure motorists are obeying lawsBy COLIN KYLER ckyler@timesobserver.com
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Law enforcement agencies conducted a safety checkpoint Wednesday afternoon in Youngsville.
Conewango Township Police, Warren County Sheriff's Department and Youngsville Borough Police all assisted at the checkpoint on West Main Street.
Youngsville Police Chief Todd Mineweaser said 415 cars went through the chedkpoint and 12 received written warnings while eight received citations.
Mineweaser said law enforcement checked to see if motorists were using seatbelts, had all their pertinent information and maintained a safe speed.
The checkpoint began at 2 p.m., Mineweaser said, and the group had a roving speed patrol once it got dark; that caught eight speeders.
Eight members of the three agencies operated the checkpoint, Mineweaser said.
Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest time for law enforcement, Mineweaser said, with Christmas and Memorial Day ranking as other busy times.
The location was chosen as many speeders travel on the road, Mineweaser said, and checkpoints are usually set up in high aggressive areas.
It would take four more workers to patrol Route 6, Mineweaser said.
With more enforcement within the county, Mineweaser said more drivers are using seatbelts and officers were writing fewer tickets for the offense than in the past.
Each department gets grant money to target aggressive driving, Mineweaser said, which cover the officers' wages.
Conewango Township Police Lt. Jason Peters said sometimes the checkpoints are announced and other times they are not.
Depending on where the checkpoint is located, Peters said officers will chase any motorists who turn around in an effort to avoid the checkpoint.
Peters said the goal for Wednesday was to mainly educate motorists to have all of the correct information.
Neighboring agencies assist each other in the checkpoint as they do when receiving daily calls, Peters said.
Mineweaser said the checkpoint went well, and he was pleased with the turnout of other agencies.
"We're too small to do it alone," he said.
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danyay
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11-27-09 4:52 PM
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TP#9, having lived in both Chautauqua and Warren counties, I agree totally... and the problem is exponentially worse up north.
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TaxpayerNumber9
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11-27-09 4:32 PM
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The combination of too many cops and too few criminals always leads to bored cops that become parasitic cops who pick on everyone they can for anything they can. It appears these officers don't have enough crimes to solve or criminals to chase, and are thus picking on the motorist again. I guess it's time for layoffs or completely eliminating some of these positions to save the tax payer in these rough times.
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justin
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11-27-09 3:51 PM
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the cops need to check them selfs around here,but i am surprised their doing any thing for our community
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Tigger08
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11-27-09 8:40 AM
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Dont they have only one cop in that town? LOL. And they chase those who turn around, please. It could be someone who might not of paid their insurance cause they are owed thousands in child support and have a deadbeat x and had to pick insurance or food. Then again, there are some who run and turn around cause they are totally illegal.
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