Grant provides funds for 'blitz' season

Local law enforcement is cracking down on traffic violations in the summer months with a state grant program.

The Portales Police Department and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office have been pulling over more people and issuing more tickets in a “super blitz,” according to police officials.

Lt. Chris Williams of the PPD said the department has elevated enforcement over the summer as part of multiple department of transportation grants geared toward preventing common summer problems like drunken driving, speeding and frequent crashes.

The “super blitz” is the act of having more officers out than usual, solely geared towards prevention of certain situations, mainly DWIs.

“During the summer, the state really has us step it up as a precaution,” said Williams.

He said this is a pattern they have followed for 18 years.

He said many officers may increase only their pullovers rather than tickets in hopes of gaining voluntary compliance from the public.

“We want the public to comply with those laws without us having to have increased enforcement,” he said.

He said the grants reimburse the department for having officers getting overtime while participating in the Super Blitz whether it’s geared towards DWIs, speeding or seat belt enforcement.

Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker attributed the need for the program to more people being out and about during the summer versus the winter.

“Winter keeps people holed up a little more, so the increased activity can sometimes cause problems,” said Parker.

He said his officers run two man operations geared entirely towards preventing drunk drivers, and people breaking the speed limit during the summer as a part of their Super Blitz.

Neither department was able to provide exact numbers in reference to the increased percentage of tickets and stops, but both confirmed it is more than other seasons due to centralized focus.

“If there are five officers out on a normal night, there will generally be 15 or more on a Super Blitz night,” said Parker.

Parker said he has seen evidence that the program is effective in that more people carpool rather than drive drunk and alcohol establishments have started offering rides.

“DWIs are probably, in my opinion, lower in the last 10 years than they have been in the last 20, just from what I’ve seen,” said Parker.