Kelly Swihart, a sergeant at the Wasilla Police Department, said he’s starting up a new year of his Multi-Jurisdictional Traffic Enforcement Team.
The team is made up of officers from Wasilla, Houston and Palmer police departments as well as Alaska State Troopers and the state Department of Transportation’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers.
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Swihart said that since May of last year until March of this year the task force was mobilized seven times for 18 hours and one time for six hours. They stopped 1,816 motorists and wrote 1,248 tickets.
“Those were contacts that would not have necessarily have been made,” he said.
They also made 13 DUI arrests and made 64 other arrests for things like outstanding warrants or drug offenses.
“We’re pretty happy with it, that’s averaging about a DUI an hour,” he said.
May is the month when, nationally, police departments start making a big push on seatbelt enforcement. For that reason, Swihart said, they chose to start the program in May of last year and restart it this year in May.
The Click-it or Ticket campaign provides some of the task force’s money and, to hear Swihart tell it, the money is well-spent. The task force wrote 197 seatbelt tickets its first year.
Swihart said he plans to run the first task force project from May 22 to May 24. The second mobilization will be from May 29 to May 31.
Like last year, he said, they’ll spend a night in each jurisdiction. He said some of that time will be spent patrolling areas that tend to have a lot of speeders and other violators.
“When we’re here in Wasilla, depending on the turnout of officers, I’d like to concentrate on Knik-Goose Bay and also probably the Parks [Highway] on the west end of town,” he said. “And then up toward Houston we’ve got the Parks Highway safety corridor which is a big area of concern.”
He said he hopes to do as many mobilizations in the program’s second year as he did in its first. Of course that’s all dependent on federal priorities, which aren’t yet certain, given that a new administration is in charge.
“The money we get for this comes from federal grants to the state and then filters down to us,” Swihart said. “It’s hard to say how much money’s going to be available or what their focus is going to be but we hope to continue.”
Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.


Comments
66 comment(s)EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 18, 2009 8:34 PM:
" Ediot, I always get a kick out of the times you show your belly and start crying/whining about somebody hurting your feelings. Considering that your posts rarely contain anything factual and are usually just taunts, put-downs and baseless accusations...it's a hoot to see you start sniveling about somebody else being mean to poor Ed.... "
=====================
My feelings are fine, much better than your logic. It is a shame you have little to add other than trying to demean ohers, but you have to live with yourself. Enjoy "
say what wrote on May 18, 2009 6:52 PM:
say what wrote on May 18, 2009 9:27 AM:
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 18, 2009 8:31 AM:
" So, Ed thinks that anything we should do for our own good should have a law to enforce it? Now I see where the 'Ediot' came from... "
=================================
I think if you re-read my comments you might get it. I have not endorsed laws for everything now have I?
There are instances where laws are needed to help the people that choose to be contrary are reminded/required to do certain things.
I dont want to pay for excessive medical costs for people not wearing helmets etc "
say what wrote on May 17, 2009 6:11 PM:
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 17, 2009 2:29 PM:
" Ed, you are truly....an idiot. You've missed the point so many times ... The point is NOT whether or not something is 'good for you'...but rather if government should create laws for everything based on .=========================
Endeavor, Do you have the ability to communicate without spewing words of insult?
As to laws, they are needed many times to protect the rest of society from the few that choose to ignore what is best for them. In this case, we all gey higher Insurance rates resulting from no helmet/belt wearing injuries "
DJ wrote on May 17, 2009 1:17 AM:
Give it up. The guy isn't that smart. He can't grasp the concept. Either that or he thinks we should have laws about eating deep-fried food, trampolines, climbing trees, smoking, skiing, mountain climbing, etc etc. And his dumb 'hammer and helmet' thing? It doesn't make any sense. Riding my motorcycle without a helmet can be compared to somebody willingly hitting themselves with a hammer? Duh.
Ed would have been happy in Soviet Russia where they DID have rules about everything 'for the good of the people'. "
Endeavor wrote on May 16, 2009 10:27 PM:
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 16, 2009 8:14 AM:
" Oh good lord, Ed...enough with the pathetic attempt at an analogy with the dumb hammer and head thing! Sheesh! You still haven't examined the point wherein there are MANY things that are bad for us and which ones would you like to see outlawed?! ============================So you are willing to NOT protect yourself for some Macho reason. You make noe sense, and don't get the point of the hammer to the head test. Shame you feel that way and just as shameful that you seem not to care. "
Ben C wrote on May 15, 2009 3:33 PM:
MAXKATT from NY wrote on May 15, 2009 1:22 PM:
jp wrote on May 15, 2009 1:07 PM:
It is the people who do not exercise good judgement that help raise our insurance premiums.
I have heard of instances of insurance companies denying claims due to non-use of safety devices, such as seat belts, or helmets.
but, it still should not be crammed down you throats either. "
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 15, 2009 11:24 AM:
I am orig from East Coast, currently in AZ and, yes an ex Volunteer EMT. I have been at many an accident scene, and believe me a seatbelty would have help immensely. You know those nasty skull meet windshield, etc accidents. I would like you to try a simple test for me. Put a helmet on your head then hit helment with hammer, take helmet off then hit head with same hammer. Which part of the test will cause the more serious injury? Get back to me when test finished.
Thanks
E "
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 15, 2009 10:05 AM:
" Oh, so now Ediot is a former EMT. Say, was this before or during also being a CPA? And were you known as 'Ed' at that time or one of the other names you post under? Your myriad of names and professions, coupled with your inane bumbling and rambling jibberish and inability to comprehend simple ideas is becoming a confusing quandry. =======Was a Volunteer EMT, and Ihave seen enough to realize seatbelts/helmets are for your protection. Hit your skull with a hammer, then put helmet on and repeat. Which feels better? "
Ben C wrote on May 14, 2009 5:35 PM:
Ben C wrote on May 14, 2009 5:21 PM:
OK Ed...try to follow along;
* The posts had nothing to do with thinking less of police. The posts had to do with a disagreement over seatbelt laws AND traffic enforcement by police of whom many are seen driving as poorly as the people they are citing.*
Having spend considerable time in other states, I can say that I've never seen police in other states driving as poorly as the ones here. But then....you're in AZ, aren't you? Oh my...blathering on about things you don't know about again... "
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 14, 2009 2:33 PM:
The next time you are in an accident or have a robbery at home, don't call the Police since you seem to think so little of them. Call someone else, maybe the DUI or the speeders, or other drivers not obeying the law to help you. Have a good day. "
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 14, 2009 2:30 PM:
IF you're really an officer....great! Thanks! But in the meantime....I'll still stick to my belief that;
1) Seat belt laws for adults are condescending, overbearing
2) Alaska police seem to be staffed by large number of hypocrites, judging by the number I see that are speeding, tailgating, not using thier signals and (my favorite) passing on the right! "===================
Hey Ben, did you know if in an accident your skull with enough force behind it can bend the steel frame of your car and kill you "
EdwardfromAZ wrote on May 14, 2009 2:26 PM:
I am sitting back reading your comments about not wanting seatbelt laws or helmet laws. But again, I am an ex EMT and have also seen my share of injured people who would have had a better chance of survival if they had been wearing the belt or helmet. So, if you don't want these laws then don't come back here complaining when your Insurance companies raise their rates even higher. Take atest for me, pick up a hammer and hit your head, then put on a helmet and do the same. "
Privilege wrote on May 14, 2009 12:26 PM:
Ben C wrote on May 14, 2009 12:21 PM:
IF you're really an officer....great! Thanks! But in the meantime....I'll still stick to my belief that;
1) Seat belt laws for adults are condescending and overbearing
2) Alaska police seem to be staffed by a large number of hypocrites, judging by the number I see each week that are speeding, tailgating, not using thier signals and (my favorite) passing on the right! "
jp to the good guy wrote on May 14, 2009 9:32 AM:
To The Good Guy wrote on May 14, 2009 8:14 AM:
The Good Guys wrote on May 14, 2009 12:10 AM:
16yrsx60per yr x$5000=$4,800,000. Now thats not including the deaths, the trips to the hospitals, the law suits and all the other suffering that goes with an accident. And these are just one officers average stats. Muliply this by all the other officers in the valley, Traffic is a problem, a hugh problem. "
The Good Guy wrote on May 13, 2009 11:35 PM:
jp wrote on May 13, 2009 8:31 AM:
Ediot from Alcatrazz for Governor 2010 ! "
DJ wrote on May 12, 2009 9:17 AM:
Where's that incredible genius on all things Alaska...Ediot from AZ? Shouldn't he be in here to educate us all on which roads need more policing, etc etc with his vast knowledge of life in Alaska, local demographics and an uncanny ability to grasp our issues from a few thousand miles away? Oh golly gee how we could use his impressive intelligence and keen insight on issues such as this! LOL! "
jp wrote on May 11, 2009 8:33 AM:
Perhaps then we'd be able to figure out the 15.4% mill rate. "
Ben C wrote on May 9, 2009 8:29 PM:
The gov't pays for those that can't afford health insurance but chose to smoke 3 packs a day and are on oxygen. They pay for the guy on Medicaid that had a heart attack after spending his life eating like Jabba the Hutt. The motorcyclist that dumped his bike. Etc Etc.
So my argument stays the same; Guess we better pass laws against smoking, eating fatty foods, motorcycles and such while we're at it. "
db wrote on May 9, 2009 6:29 PM:
To Ben C cont wrote on May 9, 2009 7:57 AM:
-Total Ignorant Irony "
To Ben C wrote on May 9, 2009 7:54 AM:
Seriously.... wrote on May 9, 2009 7:44 AM:
fred wrote on May 8, 2009 7:30 PM:
Anaarchist wrote on May 8, 2009 12:15 PM:
Ben C wrote on May 8, 2009 10:04 AM:
Great logic there. We should have stupid seatbelt laws in order to prevent the governent from having to take care of injured people. How far down that slope do you want to go? Guess we should outlaw motorcycles, fatty foods, horseback riding, personal watercraft, tire swings, etc etc etc as well, eh?
Your logic scares me. Sounds like the liberal attitude of big government trying to regulate everything with laws to protect us dumb people. How about we stick to laws to prevent people from hurting others and leave it at that? "
Total Ignorant Irony wrote on May 8, 2009 7:38 AM:
Total Ignorant Irony wrote on May 8, 2009 7:34 AM:
Total ignorant irony wrote on May 8, 2009 7:32 AM:
Residential speeding... wrote on May 8, 2009 7:13 AM:
One other question, Is anyone else as disgusted as I am about the current state of ugliness that is the ATV trail along Trunk road. Does the ATV industry promote this kind of destruction of the environment? "
Long time Alaskan wrote on May 7, 2009 9:40 PM:
Common Sense wrote on May 7, 2009 8:27 PM:
TKI wrote on May 7, 2009 3:45 PM:
Ben C wrote on May 7, 2009 9:18 AM:
Denise wrote on May 7, 2009 9:16 AM:
Uncle Jed wrote on May 7, 2009 1:23 AM:
Common Sense People wrote on May 6, 2009 12:21 PM:
Use your common sense... don't speed and drive like idiots.
If the police want a really quick pile of tickets to hand out. Sit at the corner of Creekside and Sweetie Pie as the construction crews don't know how to read speed limits and the neighbors in The Ranch don't know how to read a STOP sign!! "
Anarchist wrote on May 6, 2009 10:55 AM:
Amber wrote on May 5, 2009 10:41 PM:
lee wrote on May 5, 2009 8:34 PM:
you people are dumb wrote on May 5, 2009 7:17 PM:
jp wrote on May 5, 2009 5:10 PM:
Steve wrote on May 5, 2009 3:57 PM:
offsoapstone wrote on May 5, 2009 3:47 PM:
All for it... wrote on May 5, 2009 3:44 PM:
Berts right wrote on May 5, 2009 12:48 PM:
longtimevalleyRES wrote on May 5, 2009 12:36 PM:
the only reason why they are doing this is becuase the good weather...and you know it..Other words they would do it all the time..there are bad drivers everyday of the year..Plus you too Bert.. "
jp wrote on May 5, 2009 12:20 PM:
what this state needs are Sherriffs departments, that are voted in by the people, and work for the people, unlike the Gestapo mentality that we have for officers that we have now. our officers are nothing more than revenue collectors. "
Bert wrote on May 5, 2009 11:32 AM:
longtimevalleyRES wrote on May 5, 2009 11:18 AM:
By the way..with tuff economic times let them get all the OT... I like to pay more taxes for that..
GO GETEM BOYS....
This is lame... "
jp to speeders beware wrote on May 5, 2009 10:04 AM:
how many police cars do you see that say on the side "to protect and to serve" anymore????? check it out. "
jp wrote on May 5, 2009 8:39 AM:
and if it is, then, I want a ticket book, and i'll start writing up all those officers passing me on the right!
Lead by example gentlemen! "
Chris wrote on May 5, 2009 6:49 AM:
Palmer Driver wrote on May 4, 2009 11:25 PM:
sppeders beware wrote on May 4, 2009 10:34 PM:
but how about catching some burglars? "
lee wrote on May 4, 2009 8:14 PM: