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PTC using path patrols for info gatheringFri, 08/22/2008 - 3:31pm
By: John Munford
141 citations issued so far in 424 hours of path patrol So far this year, Peachtree City police have logged 424 hours of patrol on the cart path system. With two new all-terrain vehicles, officers have been able to cover ground on the paths during patrols. They’ve even conducted safety roadblocks on the path system, said Police Chief H.C. “Skip” Clark. The patrols focus not just on crime prevention but also path safety, Clark noted. Reckless driving is a frequent complaint police hear about the path system, he added. “The fact is it’s another roadway,” Clark said. “... You can get seriously injured or killed.” Traffic issues on the cart path are as much a concern as crime issues, Clark noted. So far, police have issued 141 citations on the cart paths this year, Clark said. The highest number of citations has been 24 handed out for underage golf cart operation, according to data provided by the police department. In second place is driving on the highway/using an unauthorized vehicle on the cart path system, with 15 citations. The department has also made 11 DUI cases on the cart paths and nine cases for disregarding a traffic control device. The 141 citations so far this year compare to 269 citations issued last year, police said. While police are handing out citations and making some arrests on the cart paths, Clark is hoping to gain an intelligence benefit as well, since cart path users can speak directly with officers on the ATVs, relaying concerns they might not have thought to call into the department as a normal complaint. Many cart path users travel in specific areas frequently, so Clark thinks those people know a lot of information about those places. “Sometimes people see things but either don’t think much of it or they’re afraid to call us or they think there’s nothing to it,” Clark said. “But it could be something we’re looking for.” Clark noted that the department recently learned about a golf cart path that was being used for normal vehicle traffic surreptitiously. He’s hoping the city can erect vehicle barriers to stem that problem. “A great example is the graffiti issue,” Clark said, noting that a golf cart with spray paint cans would be a good tip police want to hear about. The city is trying to cover up graffiti within a day of it being reported so it doesn’t spread and get worse, Clark said. The department just implemented a system to code cart path incidents to distinguish them from other locations in the city, Clark said. In the future the city may be able to use GPS data to log with each incident to help with crime analysis, Clark added. Perhaps as early as next year, police can roll out a citizen’s patrol opportunity to even further enhance safety on the cart path system, Clark said. So far 16 police officers are trained on the ATVs for path patrol, and another 16 will be trained in the near future, followed by the department’s volunteer auxiliary police unit, the chief said. The department is also looking to perhaps acquire a golf cart in the future to further add to cart path patrols, Clark said. login to post comments
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