By Sgt. Jim Halsey
Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies and Nevada Highway Patrol troopers will be stepping up traffic enforcement on major highways and state routes throughout the county. With the recent increase in fatal traffic accidents on major highways and state routes in and around Douglas County, Major Brian Sanchez of the Nevada Highway Patrol has allocated additional personnel and resources to the area in an effort to address the problem.
Additionally, Sheriff Ron Pierini has directed his deputies shift their traffic enforcement focus from smaller arterial and residential streets to the larger, more heavily travelled and problematic highways and state routes throughout the county.
Key factors in many of the recent fatal highway traffic accidents have been driver inattention, failure to yield to oncoming traffic, and failure to wear safety restraints. While NHP troopers and DCSO deputies will continue to enforce all traffic violations on all roadways throughout the county, these three violations in particular will be targeted and enforced on the major highway. Citations will be issued to violators.
Driver’s committing more serious traffic violations such as Reckless Driving or Driving without Due Care will be issued a mandatory court appearance, requiring them to appear before a magistrate to explain their actions.
An additional asset that will be used by the Nevada Highway Patrol is aircraft patrol, which can be used to monitor traffic and spot unsafe vehicle operation such as excessive speed, unsafe lane changes, or following too closely. Pilots observing violations can radio to ground units, who will initiate traffic enforcement stops on the violators.
The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office fully supports this increased enforcement action, and has pledged to provide any resources required to prosecute violator cases.
Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini and the Nevada Highway Patrol remind all motorists traveling on our highways to slow down, pay attention, and drive defensively.
Distracted, hurried or inattentive driving could lead to a life-ending tragic accident.
— Sgt. Jim Halsey is the public information officer for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.