Police out in force for holiday

September 1, 2006

By MARY AMES

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Labor Day weekend and the Alaska State Fair usually means a big party mentality in the big Valley, but it also can mean extra hours for public safety and emergency workers.

&#8220We want people to have a good time,” said Angella Long, deputy chief of the Wasilla police. &#8220But we want them to be safe.”

Wasilla will have a full complement of officers on for the weekend, Long said. And they have two extra dispatchers working at the dispatch center just to handle calls to Alaska State Troopers during the fair.

Palmer police also will be out in full force, stopping drivers with equipment violations and checking for impaired drivers.

&#8220It's a busy time with the increased darkness in a small place, with limited roads, people need to be aware of their surroundings,” said Lt. Tom Remaley of the Palmer police. &#8220Impairment doesn't help.”

Troopers also will be vigorously enforcing driving under the influence, speeding, and safety belt laws, according to a news release.

&#8220With the last weekend of the fair on the horizon, we want to remind people to slow down and stay safe on their way to and from Palmer,” said Capt. Dennis Casanovas, commander of the Palmer detachment. &#8220So far, our troopers have done a great job of stopping speeders and getting drunk drivers off the road.”

To date, troopers working in the Valley have put in 837 hours on fair traffic patrols and made 835 traffic stops. As a result, troopers made 19 DUI arrests and 58 misdemeanor arrests. Troopers have written 861 citations.

&#8220Labor Day is traditionally one of the highest traffic-volume weekends of the year,” said Col. Julia Grimes. &#8220Because it's the final break before summer officially ends, everyone tries extra hard to squeeze in every last bit of fun they can. Unfortunately, along with higher traffic volumes comes an increased risk of crashes.”

Troopers from around the state come to the Mat-Su to work the fair, and additional troopers will be on the road, thanks to a federally funded overtime grant from Alaska Highway Safety Office. The traffic teams will emphasize enforcement of sober driving with the &#8220Drink. Drive. Go To Jail” campaign. In addition, troopers on water patrols will enforce boating laws, including sober boating and use of PFDs by all children younger than 13.

Over the 2005 Alaska Labor Day weekend, police reported 42 DUI arrests, 541 speeding citations and warnings, and 54 safety belt and child restraint tickets or warnings. There were no fatalities in the 14 reported highway crashes.

In 2004, there were three fatalities and 20 highway collisions in spite of the 25 DUI arrests, 729 speeding citations, and 56 safety belt and child restraint tickets or warnings.

Troopers offer a short list of tips for holiday drivers to help them avoid trouble and tragedy:

€ Make sure you and all your passengers are buckled up in seat belts or safety seats - remember &#8220Click It Or Ticket.”

€ Be responsible, don't drink and drive.

€ The time to make the decision not to drive is before you have that first drink. If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver first.

€ Use public transit, call a cab or find a place to stay instead of getting behind the wheel.

€ Obey all speed laws, leave early on holiday trips, be patient in traffic - everyone is in the same boat, so share the road and treat other drivers like you want to be treated.

&#8220Drivers can make this Labor Day weekend a holiday from tragedy on our roads and highways if they just follow these tips,” Colonel Grimes said.

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.