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NEWS ADVISORY Aug. 18, 2009 For immediate release STOP ON RED WEEK A SUCCESS Missoula Police Promote Safety at Intersections Missoula Police Department officers wrote 33 tickets for red light-related moving violations on Reserve Street and talked with numerous drivers during National Stop on Red Week Aug. 2-8. The week of extra enforcement and public education was a success for the department and for the public, said Sgt. Greg Amundsen of the Missoula Police Department. The citations included running of red lights, failing to yield at red lights and failing to yield to pedestrians. The news media were especially helpful in getting the word out, Amundsen said. “This enforcement program improved public safety by raising awareness through the media and aggressive enforcement of red light violations within the city limits,” he said. “Many drivers were clearly aware of the extra enforcement, especially on Reserve Street, and likely changed their driving behaviors.” One acute problem officers observed was drivers running red left-turn arrows, which endangers pedestrians; once the driving arrow turns red, pedestrians see a cross signal. The Police Department received compliments all week, including numerous thumbs-up signs from drivers, Amundsen said. Officers will begin a new enforcement effort Aug. 21, using federal funds to put out extra patrols for DUI offenders and seat belt enforcement during the National Impaired Driving Crackdown effort of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The extra patrols are financed by the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), and the effort will run through Sept. 7. Contact: Sgt. Greg Amundsen, 552-6333