Lower Southampton Police to Participate in Aggressive-Driving Enforcement

In conjunction with PennDOT, the will be stepping up its aggressive-driving enforcement March 22.

According to a PennDOT-issued press release, the aggressive-driving enforcement will take place March 22 along Street Road in Lower Southampton.

Lower Southampton Police Chief William Wiegman said that while the department's officers already monitor for aggressive driving, the state is providing the department with federal funds for additional officers on patrol.

"Our department is being reimbursed by the state to put more officers on the street in that zone," Wiegman said of Street Road. The additional officers will not just be looking for aggressive driving, but they will be handing out citations for the violations.

According to Wiegman, the aggressive driving behaviors Lower Southampton officers will be looking for include speeding, tailgating, changing lanes without signaling and running red lights. They will also be looking for drivers under the age of 18 not wearing seat belts, he said, adding that not wearing a seat belt under the age of 18 is a primary violation.

The Penndel Borough Police Department will also be stepping up aggressive-driving enforcement March 22 along Route 1 (Lincoln Highway) near Hulmeville Road in Penndel Borough.

According to the PennDOT release, "this increased enforcement is part of its statewide investment of federal funds will help municipal and state police to crack down on aggressive driving behaviors."

The additional enforcement is a part of the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project, which is funded by part of PennDOT’s $2.3 million investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More than 320 municipal police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police will carry out aggressive-driving enforcement activities through April 29, according to PennDOT.

During this statewide enforcement wave, PennDOT is reminding motorists to obey the speed limit and to not speed or tailgate in work zones. Police will concentrate efforts on roadways that are known to have a high number of aggressive driving crashes.