Police issued 56 citations on Meridian

November 04, 2011|By John Boyd & Melissa Scheffler | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Local law enforcement issued 56 citations while conducting Operation Impact on Meridian. For 24 hours, Wichita Police, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputies and the Valley Center Police department monintored the busy road.

After they were done, they issued 35 speeding tickets, 9 seat belt violations and 7 no proof of insurance tickets. Two were brought in for felony warrants and two others for having an open container.

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November 2, 2011

Some unlucky drivers on Meridian saw Valley Center Police Sergeant Matt Vogt's flashing lights in their rear view mirrors.

"Since you're under the age of 18, you do have to come to court for even the speeding ticket,” Vogt said to a driver.

Officers from Valley Center, Wichita, and Sedgwick County targeted one of the area's arteries.

"We've done several of these. This is the first one on Meridian,” Wichita Sergeant Chris McAuliffe said.

“Operation Impact” started about a year ago.

In addition to looking for speeders in school zones, officers were checking for seat belts. They were also looking to see if people were texting and driving. And, with the change in weather, they were looking for dangerous drivers.

"Remember if you have your wipers on, you need your lights on,” McAuliffe said.

McAuliffe says Wednesday's wet weather reminded drivers who have had a summer free of slick roads... And of course, chilly temps... to slow down.

"[On] long trips and things like that, don't forget to have things like extra clothes, or extra supplies with you in a car should you get stranded or need those things,” McAuliffe said.

If the weather doesn't slow-down drivers, Sergeant Vogt will.

During one of the traffic-stings earlier this year, officers handed-out nearly 400 tickets. The Wichita Police Department will release the total tickets for the area Thursday.

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