White Plains CitizeNetReporter - White Plains Declared a No Speed Zone: Hit Brakes, Buckle Up, No Cells.

WPCNR White Plains Police Gazette. April 14, 2003 UPDATED WITH PHOTOS:The White Plains Police Department announced a citywide, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week campaign to eliminate speeding and reckless driving within city limits through an safety seminar and traffic law enforcement program named “Operation Safe Streets” today. The campaign kicked off at a news conference held at the Public Safety Building Plaza in White Plains, and includes a commitment to enforcing laws against illegal housing, and sophisticated security checks of vehicles entering the city.

A SIGHT NO MOTORIST WANTS TO SEE: Lieutenant Bill Bertram, Executive Officer of the White Plains Police Traffic Division, beside a speed enforcement patrolcar. With newly installed radar camera, seen on the dash through the window, a WPPD officer can pick up speeders coming at the patrol car and approaching behind the patrol car. Look out Soundview Avenue and Bryant Avenue violators!
Photo by WPCNR News

Mayor of a city that has seen several of its young residents die in recent motor vehicle crashes related to speed, Mayor Joseph M. Delfino declared that “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 33 and there are on average an estimated 5,800 pedestrian deaths and 90,000 injuries each year in the United States caused by car accidents."
Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor said, "People don’t realize that when they violate our speed limits, they put the lives of our residents in jeopardy. During my first term in office we nearly doubled the number of radar units used by the Police Department and substantially enhanced the City’s radar unit training and certification program. I asked Dr. Straub, when he first came board as our new Public Safety Commissioner to find ways to enhance our past efforts. To that end, I am pleased to announce a new initiative aimed at reducing unsafe driving habits through enforcement and education.”

COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, DR. FRANK STRAUB, introduced the initiative. He is shown beside a blow-up of the handout card, motorists found in violation will be issued, acquainting them with the goals of the new program: OBSERVE LOCAL SPEED LIMITS, NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEATBELT, ONLY USE HANDS-FREE CELLPHONE EQUIPMENT.
Photo by WPCNR NEWS

Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub introduced the initiative:

“Operation Safe Streets is a long-term commitment to enhance the safety, quality of life, and emergency preparedness in the City of White Plains. Operation Safe Streets represents a proactive comprehensive public safety strategy that will reduce speeding and unsafe vehicle operations through citywide, 24/7 enforcement and education; save lives through a multi-agency Safe Housing Task Force, and strengthen crime reduction strategies and enhance emergency preparedness through a new police and fire bureau Special Operations Command.

Rolling Initiatives: Target Speeding, Illegal Cellphone Use, Unfastened Seatbelts. Handcard Awareness.

The program will also feature bilingual handcards which will be handed out to all vehicles noted, stopped, or detained by police officers. Low profile Police Cars and unmarked cars, and motorcycle police equipped with high-tech radar guns will be actively looking for speeders in the outer neighborhoods as well as the White Plains downtown.

THE WHITE PLAINS BP'S (Bicycle Police) will be cruising and observing passing motor vehicle traffic for illegal use of cell phones and passengers and drivers with unfastened seatbelts.
Photo by WPCNR News

LICENSE AND REGISTRATION PLEASE: Officer John Nolan, emerges from a low profile patrolcar, so-called because it is without the standard rack of police lights on its roof. It's purpose is to provide more concealment for the traffic enforcement officer, yet still identify it as a police car to enhance awareness in the neighborhoods. Asked whether warnings would be given speed violators in these first days of the program, Commissioner Straub said that was “up to the discretion of the police officer.”
Photo by WPCNR News

"THE BLACK BEAUTY," an unmarked car for more selective speed enforcement. Officers manning The Black Beauty will, Commissioner Straub said always be in uniform so they can be identified as a police officer.
Photo by WPCNR News

FIVE RADAR EQUIPPED HARLEYS will be used to target speeders with the most up-to-date speedguns, very similar to "speed guns" used to measure major league pitchers' speed.
Photo by WPCNR News

Radioactive Materials Searches.

Commissioner Straub also announced that White Plains Police would be conducting searches of commercial vehicles under certain conditions, using handheld radiation detectors at selected checkpoints when the department feels it is appropriate. Passenger vehicles may also be wanded for radioactivity using the handheld devices without the vehicles having to be stopped.

HAND HELD RADIATION DETECTOR, is demonstrated by Officer John Nolan. Each detector is sensitive to levels of radioactivity within 15 feet of a vehicle, according to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Charles Jennings. Each “Pocket Geiger Counter” costs the department $1,700.
Photo by WPCNR News

Seminars coming up.

Commissioner Straub said there would be a series of Educational Seminars on the speed enforcement program held at meetings of neighborhood associations, and through the Community Police Officer at White Plains High School.

Details to come.

He said details of the Safe Housing Task Force would be announced shortly.

Councilman Glen Hockley noted to WPCNR after the new conference that "speeding is the number one issue in the neighborhoods," and that he was glad to see the sophisticated effort about to begin.


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