The Nacogdoches Police Department will soon be participating in an enforcement wave of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). The Police Department participates in STEP several times each year in conjunction with TxDOT and other law enforcement agencies.
The upcoming enforcement wave is for the Memorial Day holiday and officers will be highly visible from May 18 thru June 1. Officers will be targeting seatbelt usage, speed, child safety seat usage and other moving violations.
“The ultimate purpose of these programs is to make the roads safer,” Nacogdoches Police Lt. Dan Taravella said. “That’s the bottom line. If we can slow folks down, encourage everyone to buckle up and get children in car seats, then we all stand a better chance in the event of an accident.”
STEP is conducted primarily during high traffic holiday times. The Nacogdoches Police Department will also be participating in another traffic safety event, Click it or Ticket (CIOT) during the same time frame, which specifically focuses on seat belt usage. NPD Traffic Officers will also be working with Union Pacific Railroad authorities on the railroad crossing safety enforcement program.
“All of these various programs are aimed at simply raising awareness, enforcing violations and hoping that word of mouth will help spread the message. We can make our roads and streets safer,” Taravella said.
