MAY 8, 2018
FCSO TRAFFIC SAFETY UNIT REPORTS ACTIVITY FOR APRIL
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit conducted enforcement operations throughout Florence County during the month of April 2018. The Traffic Safety Unit is made up of six Deputies, four of whom are funded by traffic safety grants that the Sheriff’s Office received in October of 2016 and October of 2017. 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 focus their enforcement efforts on roadways that have a high number of collisions and traffic deaths. Team members also concentrate on the primary 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 whose positions are paid for by the Traffic Safety Grants have received specialized vehicles and equipment, and their salaries are 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 2018.
For the month of April, 2018 the Traffic Safety Unit logged the following statistics:
| Traffic Violations | |
|---|---|
| DUI: | 07 |
| Seatbelt: | 61 |
| Child Restraint Violations: | 24 |
| Speeding: | 360 |
| Driving Under Suspension: | 27 |
| Driving Without a License: | 15 |
| Uninsured Motorist: | 03 |
| Collisions Investigated: | 12 |
| Other Traffic Violations: | 382 |
| Total number of Traffic Citations: | 891 |
| Criminal Violations | |
|---|---|
| Drug Arrests: | 13 |
| Fugitive Arrests: | 05 |
| Felony Arrests: | 02 |
| Weapons law violations: | 02 |
| Total Criminal Violations: | 22 |
| Safety Presentations: | 03 |
| Traffic Safety Checkpoints: | 06 |
| Traffic Safety Unit Total Contacts: | 913 |
Significant Events for April 2018
• Traffic Safety Unit participated in a Statewide crackdown of US 378; Traffic Safety Units along with three FCSO Reserve Deputies conducted focused enforcement of US 378 from 0700 until 0200 on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28. A total of 420 traffic contacts were issued during the course of the operation.
• Traffic Safety Unit Deputies responded to assist the SCHP in a vehicle pursuit after the suspect vehicle struck a tree. Troopers arrested the suspect on several traffic charges and PWID Marijuana.
• Traffic Safety Unit Deputies and members of the Narcotics Division responded to Alligator road for the report of a large party. TSU Deputies contacted a suspect vehicle and while speaking with the driver it was discovered that there was Marijuana in the vehicle. The Marijuana was located and the suspect was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana.
• Traffic Safety Unit Deputies responded to Pamplico, SC to assist the Pamplico Police Department which had been involved in a vehicle pursuit. The suspect vehicle had left the roadway during the pursuit and struck power pole knocking out power to the town of Pamplico. Traffic Safety Unit Deputies conducted a search of the area for the driver of the suspect vehicle but were unable to locate the suspect. A passenger in the suspect vehicle was transported to a local hospital for treatment. SCHP investigated the collision.
END
Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.
