Festus Police officers focused on red-light violations at stoplights along Hwy. A during an April 27 traffic detail and ended up handing out 20 tickets. The officers could have written even more tickets, Chief Tim Lewis said.
At times there were clusters of drivers running red lights, and with only a limited number of officers available, sometimes they could only corral one of the several of red-light violators, he said.
“We had four officers working it from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” Lewis said. “They made 22 stops and gave out 20 citations. They had one fugitive arrest for a felony.”
Lewis said he authorized the traffic detail after local residents requested it.
“I’ve been getting complaints of people running red lights,” he said.
Lewis said his officers monitored the stoplights along Hwy. A at Collins Drive, Bradley Street, I-55, Gannon Drive West, South Mill Street and Hwy. 61-67.
Drivers should expect additional traffic details looking for red-light violations in the next several months, he said.
“We’ll do several more of these over the summer,” he said.