Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen today announced traffic enforcement plans for the Christmas and New Years holiday weekends.

 The Christmas holiday traffic enforcement effort will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 22, 2006 and conclude at Midnight on Monday, December 25, 2006. The New Years holiday traffic enforcement campaign will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2006 and conclude at Midnight on Monday, January 1, 2007.

Chief Owen said that throughout both holiday enforcement operations, officers will focus on drivers who are speeding, driving recklessly, or who may be driving while impaired. Officers will center much of their enforcement efforts on the major arterial routes that run throughout the city along with motorists utilizing the interstates. A sobriety checkpoint will also be conducted during the New Year's holiday weekend by members of the East District.

Chief Owen said, "The goal of our traffic enforcement efforts will be to reduce the speed of motorists. By accomplishing that goal, we will reduce the opportunities for motorists to be involved in a serious or fatal crash."
During the 2005 Christmas holiday traffic enforcement operation, officers issued 611 traffic related citations. Officers also investigated 55 non-injury vehicle crashes and 15 injury vehicle crashes. The last fatality to be recorded during the Christmas traffic enforcement campaign occurred in 2002.
During the 2005 - 2006 News Years traffic enforcement campaign, officers issued 1,255 traffic related citations. Officers also investigated 72 vehicle crashes. Twelve of these crashes resulted in personal injuries. A single fatality crash also occurred during this time period.

Chief Owen said, "This is an extremely busy time of the year for families. Drivers can easily be distracted due to the many holiday related activities. We urge every motorist to slow down, increase the following distance between their vehicle and the vehicle ahead of them, and please do not drive while impaired."