BPD to crack down on traffic violations Nov. 11 to Nov. 22

The Bloomington Police Department will participate in a statewide Safe Family Travel traffic safety enforcement “blitz” right before the holiday season.\nThe campaign uses federal funding to put more officers on patrol to enforce Indiana’s impaired-driving and seat-belt laws, according to an Indiana Criminal Justice Institute press release. The blitz will begin Nov. 11 and end Nov. 24. The goal of the blitz is to ensure safety on Indiana highways during the heavy traffic of the holiday season, according to the press release.\n“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times on Indiana highways, and we want to encourage all Hoosiers to make smart and safe decisions,” said BPD Sgt. Faron Lake in the press release. “If you buckle up and drive responsibly while traveling this holiday season, chances are, you’ll arrive alive.”\nIn 2006, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, 87 people died in alcohol-related crashes or in crashes where safety belts were not used, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Of those killed in alcohol-related crashes, nearly 50 percent were unrestrained, according to the press release.\nMike Cunegin, the executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, said in the press release that many communities throughout Indiana are safer as a result of the enforcement blitz. \n“Drivers should buckle up, obey posted speed limits and drive sober to prevent unnecessary fatalities and injuries that may otherwise occur on Indiana’s roads and highways,” Cunegin said in the press release.