The Iowa State Patrol announced on June 4th, a campaign to step up enforcement of traffic violations during the month of June. http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/pib/Releases/2009/06-03-2009_SafeSaturdays.htm. According to the State Patrol's press release "statistics indicate the month of June is one of the deadlier months for traffic fatalities in Iowa." The majority of these fatalities occur on Saturday nights so the special enforcement effort is being dubbed "Safe Saturdays."
The stepped up enforcement will focus on cracking down on speeding, seat belt usage, and drunk driving. Each Saturday during June a different District will activate its entire work force between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. with all uniformed members of the patrol participating in these projects, regardless of rank. Bottom line is that the highways will be crawling with State Troopers looking for the slightest possible traffic infraction to "justify" stopping vehicles to investigate them for OWI/DUI. Aggressive enforcement of traffic laws will likely be an understatement. If you have not already, now is the time to ensure that all of the equipment on your vehicle is in proper working order because the smallest infraction will give law enforcement sufficient reason to pull you over. (Top 10 Ways to Avoid a DUI). Now is also a good time to refresh your understanding of your rights (OWI and Your Rights) and request an Iowa Driver's Rights Card. In the unfortunate event that you are stopped and investigated for Operating While Intoxicated what you do and say from the moment you are stopped can make all the difference.
The Department of Public Safety has released a schedule for the stepped up enforcement but you can be certain that all law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols and enforcement at all times through out the summer months and especially during the month of June. A word of warning, it is a pattern of Iowa law enforcement agencies and specifically the Department of Public Safety to announce a formal crack down on one weekend but actually step up enforcement on other dates that are not advertised. Govern yourself accordingly. The "published" schedule is as follows:
June 6th:
District 1: Includes Des Moines, Ames, Marshalltown, Boone and Newton
District 6: Spencer, Estherville, Orange city, Sibley, and the Lakes area
District 7: Fort Dodge, Webster City, Algona, Rockwell City, Clarion and Pocahontas
District 12: Davenport, Muscatine, Clinton, Anamosa and Maquoketa
June 13th:
District 3: Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Shenandoah, Atlantic, and Corning
District 8: Mason City, Charles City, Clear Lake, Forest City and Cresco
District 13: Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Burlington, Washington, Keokuk and Fort Madison
June 20th:
District 2: Osceola, Creston, Chariton, Indianola and Lamoni
District 5: Sioux City, Cherokee, Storm Lake and Ida Grove
District 9: Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Waverly, Iowa Falls and Grundy Center
June 27th:
District 4: Carroll, Denison, Jefferson, Audubon and Harlan
District 10: Dubuque, Oelwein, Decorah and Independence
