Latest news with #BoisePoliceDepartment
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Boise police say traffic stops are soaring — and cite one troubling trend
Boise police officers are conducting more traffic stops than usual and seeing an increase in reckless driving behaviors. Officer Kyle Wills said the Boise Police Department has upped its enforcement on the roads to combat rising rates of fatal and serious-injury crashes during the summer months. According to the Idaho Office of Highway Safety, there have been 140 fatal crashes statewide so far this year, compared to 123 during the same period in 2024. In Boise, there have been seven fatal crashes in 2025. 'We're trying to combat that increase, or stop and reduce the fatal and serious-injury crashes on our roadways, so increasing enforcement is an obvious response to the number of crashes we're seeing,' Wills told the Idaho Statesman. 'Our goal is always to keep the community safe, and this is one aspect of what we want to do, is keeping the community safe and keeping families whole.' A July 30 police department press release stated that officers conducted 18,595 traffic stops from January through June 2025, which was a 34.4% increase from the same period in 2024. In June alone, officers conducted 4,000 traffic stops. One of the biggest issues this summer, the release said, is an increase in drivers traveling more than 100 mph within city limits. In the release, Boise Police Sgt. Matt Konvalinka said that the most common citations involve dangerous behaviors that were 'entirely preventable.' Memorial Day through Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest days on the roads, according to the National Road Safety Foundation, and Boise police urge drivers to take extra caution. 'Historically, this time frame is when we see a significant spike in fatal and serious-injury car crashes,' Wills said. 'If you were to take any 100-day period throughout any time of the year, our highest fatalities are typically between Memorial Day and Labor Day.' The roads are much more dangerous in the summertime, he said. In the winter, Wills said, drivers are more cautious because they understand that the roads will be in worse condition with snow and ice. But in the summer, people focus less and aren't 'engaged as much in the act of driving.' Beyond that, he said during the summer teens and young drivers who would otherwise be in school are driving more. There are also more vacationers and motorcyclists on the roads. 'Every one of these (fatal) crashes has claimed a life and devastated a family. It's our hope that by sharing this information, drivers are reminded just how critical safe driving habits are, especially during the summer months,' Boise Police Sgt. Matt Konvalinka stated in the news release. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Boise husband and wife arrested. Police say they threatened, stalked people
A husband and wife have been arrested on charges after authorities said they threatened several people, including a local police officer and the officer's family. The Boise Police Department began investigating the 42-year-old man after learning he allegedly violated two restraining orders, according to a news release from the agency. The protected individuals received a large document from the man 'containing threatening language,' and he also sent it to others locally and across the country, 'threatening additional people by name,' police said. The man was arrested Saturday at his Boise home and was booked into the Ada County Jail, the release said. He was charged with two felony counts of stalking in the first degree, court records showed. His wife, 39, was arrested after police alleged that she threatened a local law enforcement officer and that officer's family, according to the release. She was taken into custody by the Garden City Police Department on Monday on suspicion of misdemeanor telecommunication harassment and booked into the Ada County Jail, records showed. The investigation is ongoing, with additional charges possible, police said. 'Thanks to the diligent work of our officers and our law enforcement partners, these threats were taken seriously and addressed quickly,' Boise Police Lt. Andrew Linn said in the release. 'We are grateful for the coordination and professionalism that allowed this dangerous situation to be resolved safely.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Can I turn left at a red light onto a one-way street? What Idaho law says
Many areas in downtown Boise and throughout the Treasure Valley are full of one-way streets, causing confusion about what rules apply or the differences from two-way streets. But what about turning left onto a one-way street during a red light? Although a steady red light while turning left usually means you must stop and cannot go through the intersection until the light changes, the rules vary on one-way roads. In Idaho, it is legal to turn left onto a one-way street on a red light, Boise Police Department spokesperson Haley Williams told the Idaho Statesman. 'You can turn left on red onto a one-way as long as it's clear and that red light is not a red arrow,' Williams said. The one-way road must be traveling left, but after a complete stop, you are then allowed to turn left onto the road while yielding to oncoming traffic. A left turn onto a one-way street is only permitted if there are no signs prohibiting the turn. Many drivers assume that turning left on red is always illegal — or forget that it's legal only when turning onto a one-way street that travels in the direction of the turn. Turning left on red onto a two-way street remains illegal in Idaho and most states. A red arrow means you need a green light to advance, regardless of whether you're turning left or right. These rules are also outlined in Title 49 of the Idaho Statutes, which allows a left turn onto a one-way highway that carries traffic in the direction of the left turn during a red light, as long as there are no signs or authorities prohibiting the turn. Title 49 also reminds drivers that when faced with a red light, they must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the road. Idaho is one of many states that allow a left turn on red onto a one-way street. But drivers should note that rules vary across state lines. For instance, in Washington and Oregon, similar rules apply, while some states restrict this maneuver more heavily or require explicit signage allowing it.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Busy street linking Garden City and Boise reopens after road rage shooting
This is a breaking news story. Check back to for updates. To sign up for breaking news alerts, click here. A busy Garden City roadway has reopened following a police investigation into a road rage incident near the Expo Idaho grounds. The victim told police that he was driving an SUV north on North Glenwood Street when someone on a racing motorcycle displayed a handgun, according to a Garden City Police Department news release. Law enforcement said the motorcyclist drove dangerously between traffic to pull alongside the SUV near the Riverside Drive intersection. The SUV driver then bumped the suspect by opening his vehicle door, 'causing him to travel slightly forward and fall over,' police said. The suspect then got up and fired his gun three times, hitting the SUV's windshield, according to police. Officers with the Garden City and Boise police departments responded to the scene at about noon. They located one of the people involved at a nearby business and another near Glenwood and Riverside. 'This senseless incident could have ended with an innocent person being shot,' Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh said in a statement. 'As the valley has grown, traffic congestion has increased. Please be patient in your travels, and if you feel you are the victim of a road rage incident, call the police.' The police department also noted that the suspect had split lanes, an illegal maneuver in Idaho that involves a motorcycle driving along traffic lines between vehicle lanes. Glenwood is a busy street for its stretch between Chinden Boulevard in Garden City and State Street in Boise, and has two lanes of travel in each direction, with a turn lane in the center. Law enforcement booked the suspect into the Ada County Courthouse on suspicion of felony aggravated assault. He'll face arraignment at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Police temporarily asked drivers to avoid the area as they investigated, and at one point Glenwood was down to one lane going both north and south. The Boise Police Department confirmed to the Idaho Statesman that the road was fully reopen by 2:30 p.m.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Felony suspect rams Boise police car, eludes authorities in high-speed chase
The Ada County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man accused of ramming a Boise Police Department vehicle and leading authorities on a high-speed chase through Ada County early Friday morning. Boise police officers responded to a call related to a 'problem subject' at around 3 a.m., according to an Instagram post from the Sheriff's Office. Erik Enriques, who is wanted on a felony probation violation warrant, was located on the 600 block of Pearl Street in Boise at around 4 a.m. Enriques rammed the police vehicle with a car and fled, police said, and a pursuit ensued. Multiple attempts were made to stop Enriques by Boise, Meridian and Kuna police, as well as Ada County sheriff's deputies. The Sheriff's Office took over pursuit once Enriques traveled into Kuna. 'The suspect drove recklessly and at a high rate of speed through closed roads and construction zones before abandoning his vehicle in the area of Kay Ave. and Ardell Rd.,' according to a Facebook post. Authorities attempted to find Enriques using police dogs, drones and specialized units, and a CodeRed emergency notification was issued to residents in the surrounding area. Local schools also were notified. As of 6 p.m. Friday, Enriques still had not been located. Anyone with information regarding Enriques is asked to contact Ada County nonemergency dispatch at 208-377-6790.
