Operation Pull Over efforts lead to multiple arrests

The Governor’s Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving and the Traffic Safety division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) announced Monday that the statewide enforcement crackdown that took place from Nov. 11-25 was a success.

The enforcement crackdown was supported through an existing partnership between the Governor’s Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving and local and state law enforcement agencies. Participating agencies placed additional officers on the streets who worked a total of 6,386 hours collectively, to enforce Indiana’s impaired driving and seat belt laws over the Thanksgiving holiday season.

“Unfortunately, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year. Police across Indiana took proactive steps to keep Hoosiers safe over the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Mike Cunegin, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

During this enforcement blitz there were a total of 10,434 citations issued for seat belt violations, speed, DUI, criminal felonies and a variety of other traffic offenses. There were also 463 portable breathalyzer tests conducted.

Routine traffic stops have on many occasions uncovered more serious offenses. During this blitz, the Muncie Police Department pulled over and ultimately recovered a stolen vehicle with a female passenger inside who was being held against her will. The car caught the attention of an officer because the driver was not wearing a seat belt. The Blackford County Sheriff’s Department also pulled over and arrested a driver for possession of crack cocaine.

This enforcement crackdown coincided with a statewide media

campaign scheduled from Nov. 8-22. The primary messages promoted in this campaign were “Click It or Ticket,” and “Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest.”

Research has shown that when combined, high visibility enforcement and a strong media message lead to higher seat belt usage rates and a reduction in alcohol related crash fatalities.