The Oklahoma Highway Patrol conducted safety checks at three locations in Cleveland County Saturday night.
"We're just out here trying to make the roadways as safe as they can be," said Capt. Chris West, public information officer for the OHP.
West described the process as "mass saturation." About 30-40 OHP troopers and deputies from the Cleveland and Oklahoma counties sheriff's departments were in the field Saturday evening.
"I can't tell you the last time we did one of this magnitude," West said.
The troopers and deputies stopped drivers and ran their licenses through the system looking for suspensions or outstanding warrants. They also checked for physical safety of the vehicles, such as working lights and up-to-date registration, and they looked for alcohol violations.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department provided kiosks that checked license information wirelessly so personnel could check for valid drivers licenses and outstanding warrants at the site, instead of calling them in, said Capt. Doug Blaine, public information officer for the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department.
"First time it's being used down here," he said of the kiosks.
The checks happened in three locations from about 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., but the locations floated throughout Cleveland County, focusing on Interstate 35, State Highway 9 and Lake Thunderbird.
When asked about the locations, West said many people go to the lake and drink and then get in their cars and drive home.
"We hope that people would be responsible, but we know that some aren't," he said.
In addition to the three license and safety check locations, OHP patrols were stepped up all around Lake Thunderbird. Boat patrols at the lake were accompanied by some air patrols of the highway, West said.
"So kind of a land, air and sea deal," he said.
The goal, West said, is to make the roads safe and save lives. So far this year, there have been 29 fewer traffic fatalities in Oklahoma than last year. By this point in 2007, there were 459 fatalities. So far this year there are only 430. West said the OHP wants to keep that number down.
Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
Local news
'Mass saturation' highlights safety
Highway Patrol stops drivers near Lake Thunderbird
- Local news
-
-
'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year
Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacey seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
-
Communicating finances is good for relationship
If Valentine’s Day makes you think of flowers, candlelight and whispering sweet nothings into your sweetheart’s ear, maybe it’s time to think again. While many factors can play into whether a relationship endures for the long term, ...
-
The Week Ahead: China has mighty appetites
America’s banker visits its grocer in the coming week. When Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping tours the U.S., his itinerary includes expected stops in Washington, D.C., and California. But he’s also scheduled to stop in Iowa. Usually ...
-
I-35/Robinson Street interchange project
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded the bid for the Interstate-35 and Robinson Street interchange project on Feb. 6. Silver Star Construction Company of Moore, was awarded the bid at $2,730,900 — $373,700 lower than the ...
-
Public hearings
Residential Code informational meeting 6- 8 p.m., Feb. 16 Multipurpose Room, Norman Municipal Complex 201 West Gray Street The Norman Department of Planning and Community Development is hosting a public information program on the city’s ...
-
Business briefs
The Norman Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster. A librarian will speak about Valentine’s day and how it came about and a book display. RSVP: ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
