Red Light Running Sites Active in Summer Months

Bellingham, Black Hawk County, Boston, Colorado Springs, Lexington/ Fayette County, Polk County, Portland and Rutland are among the many sites that effectively captured the attention of their respective communities with informative, attention-grabbing kickoff events.

As a result of the hard work and dedication of the many people involved in the planning, these RLR sites garnered generous media coverage.

For instance, six of "Bellingham's Finest" motorcycle police officers made a crowd-pleasing dramatic entrance by arriving in formation for the site's kickoff in front of City Hall on May 1. Attendees munched on complimentary bagels and coffee as the Mount Baker Toppers played old-time barbershop quartet music. Bellingham's creative strategic efforts resulted in front page coverage in the Bellingham Herald while RLR features aired on local television and radio broadcasts.

During Colorado Springs' June 13 kickoff, the site featured a compelling video of a red light running crash victim and the first officer on the scene.

This six-minute DRIVE SMART tape, which was produced by the site, is an "in their own words" description of the crash and the events leading up to it, and includes details of what happened to this young woman as a result. Site coordinator John Henry and his colleagues will continue to showcase the video as they speak with various organizations in Colorado Springs about the RLR campaign.

"Red Light Special" Cooler
Giveaway

In addition to launching campaign kickoffs, various RLR sites initiated unique special events. Kenner site coordinator Kathy DuTreil of the Kenner Police Department had her hands full - full of Igloo Mini-Mate coolers specially designed with the "I Stop for Red Lights" logo. During a recent three-day "Red Light Special" promotion, officers from the Kenner Police Department "hid out" at high-incident RLR intersections. Drivers who stopped for the red traffic light were caught off guard when patrolling officers pulled them over to give them an RLR cooler. Those who didn't stop for the red light weren't too surprised to be pulled over, nor too happy when the officer handed them a ticket for committing a traffic violation. Media coverage was phenomenal with a front page, lead story in the Kenner Picayune newspaper and numerous segments airing on local television newscasts. As a result of this publicity, area residents contacted both the police department and the television stations to find out the location of the next "stakeout." Those coolers were a hit with the people of Louisiana!

Other RLR sites have been bustling, too. Jackson, MI, has been busy designing and producing RLR signage. If you were to visit Jackson over the next twelve months, you couldn't miss seeing their newly painted Transit Authority bus literally covered with RLR artwork.

Taking the Red Light Running Message on the Road

In addition, the site has placed RLR messages on four billboards and six bus shelters located throughout the area. And to top all that off, the advertising space for the van,

billboards and bus shelters was donated by local organizations and corporate partners!

Henrico County - one of the four counties comprising the Richmond, VA, campaign - has been stepping up RLR enforcement by using a combination of two patrol officers on bicycles and one on a motorcycle. Because the majority of high-incident intersections are heavily congested, apprehending a violator in traffic can be hazardous not only to the officers

Henrico's Bike Patrol

but to the public. Therefore, bicycle patrol officers monitor the traffic signal from a safe position off the roadway. After observing an RLR violator, the bicycle officer gives a description of the violating vehicle and driver via police radio to the motorcycle officer positioned further up the road who then guides that vehicle safely to the side of the road. Then one of the two bicycle officers issues a traffic citation while the motorcycle officer returns to his/her original location to await the next violator. This rotation method has proven to be very safe and successful - officers working this detail average ten tickets per three-hour operation.

While there is not enough print space in this newsletter to mention and highlight all of the RLR activities that have taken place this summer, it is important to note that each RLR site is making a tremendous effort to ensure that citizens in their communities not only understand the emotional, physical and financial consequences associated with red light running, but also comply with the rules of the road.