May 3, 2017
Traffic Safety Unit Reports Monthly Activity
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit conducted enforcement operations throughout Florence County during the month of April 2017. The Traffic Safety Unit is made up of 6 Deputies, three of whom are funded by a traffic safety grant awarded to FCSO in October of 2016. The primary function of the Traffic Safety Unit is to reduce the number of traffic collisions and fatalities experienced in Florence County. Members of the FCSO Traffic Safety Unit will focus their enforcement efforts on roadways with a high number of collisions and traffic related deaths. Team members will also be concentrating on the traffic violations that lead to traffic deaths such as speeding, DUI, and seatbelt violations. All members of the Traffic Safety Unit are certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Breath Test Operators, Speed Measurement Device Operators, and two members are certified Drug Recognition Experts. Members of the Traffic Safety Unit that are paid for by the Traffic Safety Grant have received specialized vehicles and equipment, and their salaries will be paid for by grant funds for the next three years. The Traffic Safety Unit also participates with the 12th Circuit LEN and will be planning checkpoints throughout Florence County during the month of May.
For the month of April 2017 the Traffic Safety Unit logged the following statistics:
| Traffic Violations | |
|---|---|
| DUI: | 4 |
| Seatbelt: | 193 |
| Child Restraint Violations: | 10 |
| Speeding: | 129 |
| Driving Under Suspension: | 21 |
| Driving Without a License: | 13 |
| Uninsured Motorist: | 6 |
| Reckless Driving: | 1 |
| Other Traffic Violations: | 270 |
| Total number of Traffic Contacts: | 647 |
| Collisions investigated: | 46 |
| Criminal Violations | |
|---|---|
| Drug Arrests: | 4 |
| Fugitive Arrests: | 4 |
| Drug Influence Evaluations: | 2 |
| Total Criminal Violations: | 8 |
| Safety Presentations: | 5 (475+ people contacted) |
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit would also like to report that according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the number of traffic deaths is down in Florence County from this time last year. Just as important the number of traffic deaths state wide are down from this time last year. According to the SCDPS there have been 8 traffic deaths in Florence County which is down from 9 this time in 2016, and there have been 307 traffic fatalities throughout the state which is a reduction of 1 fatality from this time last year. Although these numbers are down albeit slightly, one traffic death is too many; the Florence County Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage motorists to be mindful of their speed, to not drink and drive and to please buckle their seatbelt.
If your organization or group would like to host a Safety Presentation by the Traffic Safety Unit, please contact Lieutenant A.B. Fox at (843) 665-2121, ext. 302.
END
Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.
