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HOLDEN, Mass. — Just before the intersection at Industrial Drive and Main Street, Holden Police Lt. Tim Armstrong and Sgt. Rick Horrigan watch as drivers repeatedly speed up to pass traffic in the breakdown lane during the Thursday morning commute.
Farther down the road, Officers Rocky Himmer, Gregg Sculthorpe and Mike Joslyn receive a description of the vehicles over the radio from Armstrong, and, one by one, pull over the drivers for the violations.
The morning's operation marked the beginning of the Holden Police Department's summer traffic enforcement program, an effort to increase education about hot-spot traffic issues around town and target common violations such as illegally passing on the right, aggressive driving and speeding.
This month, the department will be focusing on lane violations, which Armstrong says are becoming more prevalent.
"We've seen illegal use of the breakdown lane, speeding, passing on the right to get an advantage going through the light," said Armstrong. "We're also looking for stickers and registration violations."
In the short time they were there, the police pulled over seven to eight vehicles for various violations.
While traffic slows during summer, the lieutenant said the department is using its available resources to make a concerted effort to reinforce the traffic laws before school starts again.
"The goal is to make the streets safer as far as lessening the accidents and road rage incidents," Armstrong said.
Comments (3)
Well, they were DEAD wrong.
Main Street is challenged by drivers who simply want to get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Courtesy has been thrown out the window. Just try to leave a five car space between you and the vehicle in front of you and you will be chastized with horn beeps and single finger salutes.
Kudos to the HPD for working on this issue and let's hope they also educate drivers that pedestrians in cross walks have the right of way with a $ 100 fine allowed by state law.
When I moved here all the people here told me you could pass on the right no matter what...even if you risk killing people.
You must be talking to the same people my new neighbors been speaking to! She just told me that "all the people" here told her that nobody cares if you let your dog poop in their yards. Stop listening to fools and start thinking for yourselves