Latest news with #trafficenforcement
Malay Mail
a day ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Caught cutting the line at Woodlands or Tuas? Singapore's ICA says expect a U-turn or a blacklist
SINGAPORE, June 1 — As the June school holidays begin in Singapore, the country's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers are stepping up enforcement against motorists who attempt to jump queues at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The Straits Times reported today that motorists caught trying to cut ahead in line risk being forced to make a U-turn to the back of the queue — and could face tougher penalties such as blacklisting or bans from entering via vehicle in future. Inspector Mardiana Masdar, team leader at the Integrated Operations Centre at Woodlands Checkpoint, said queue-jumping incidents spike during peak hours, when traffic congestion is most severe. Speaking at a virtual interview on May 28, she stressed the seriousness of such violations. 'If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our Secondary Office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queues,' she was quoted as saying. She added that officers on the ground alert the control team when they spot such behaviour, who then direct the offending drivers to make a U-turn. Repeat offenders or those who refuse to comply may be banned from entering the checkpoint by vehicle and will have to use alternative transport. She cited a 2023 case involving a Malaysian driver who, after being caught queue-jumping, refused to turn back and drove off instead. 'Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore,' she said. Traffic volume at land checkpoints is expected to be especially high from June 6 to 9, which includes the Hari Raya Haji weekend. ICA said in a May 23 statement that during the recent Wesak Day long weekend (May 8–13), over three million travellers cleared both checkpoints. On May 9 alone, more than 546,000 crossed the borders — one of the highest single-day figures this year. Crowds had also caused jams of up to five hours over the May 3 Polling Day weekend. Checkpoint officers are bracing themselves for similar or worse conditions during the June holidays. Inspector Eileen Neo Hui Xin, an assessment and investigation officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, said the long waits often lead to flared tempers. 'Everyone wants to travel smoothly. And during peak periods, it is very difficult to manage people's expectations and to manage the ground properly,' she was quoted as saying. 'Balancing efficiency with security standards is tough, but it also makes the work fulfilling.' Officers have also had to deal with motorists becoming verbally abusive, though Insp Neo noted most are ignored unless they cross the line. Wet weather further complicates clearance procedures — especially for motorcyclists, whose wet fingerprints may fail to register on automated lanes, leading to delays. To avoid unnecessary delays, travellers are urged not to carry prohibited items. Checkpoint Inspector (1) Kendri Parwira Suhairi, 38, a first response team officer, recalled stopping a Singaporean couple who brought batons they claimed were for home defect inspections. 'At one glance, I knew that was not the case,' he said. The couple were referred to police, and the items deemed controlled. CI (1) Kendri said, 'We remain vigilant 24/7. At the end of the day, we are the first line of defence at the border.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘It's alarming': 19 impaired drivers stopped in Abbotsford Friday night
Police highlighted a "particularly concerning" recent incident that wasn't part of Friday night's total, in which a 40-year-old woman was driving impaired on her way to pick up her child from school. (@AbbyPoliceDept / Police in Abbotsford say they stopped more than a dozen impaired drivers in the city Friday night. The Abbotsford Police Department said on social media Saturday that its Traffic Enforcement Unit and patrol officers had taken 19 impaired drivers off the streets in a single evening. 'It's alarming how many individuals continue to drive under the influence, despite the ease of finding a safe ride home,' police said in their post. They also highlighted a 'particularly concerning' recent incident that wasn't part of Friday night's total. On Thursday afternoon, a 40-year-old woman was arrested for impaired driving after crashing into a tree and getting stuck on a concrete median. 'She was found to be over three times the legal alcohol limit – and was on her way to pick up her child from school,' police said. Abbotsford police have been dealing with a surge in impaired driving this year. At the beginning of April, the department said traffic stops for alcohol and drug impairment had risen by 74 per cent in comparison to the same period last year. While some of that increase is due to more robust enforcement on the part of police, there also appears to be 'a significant rise' in impairment overall, said Sgt. Paul Walker, at the time. To raise public awareness, the APD has partnered with ICBC and Mothers Against Drunk Driving on a signage campaign to highlight the locations where officers have nabbed impaired drivers on a weekly basis. The bright red signs read 'Impaired driver caught here,' and include a prompt for witnesses to call 911. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Middletown set to become first CT city approved to use red light, speed cameras
Middletown is set to become the first city in Connecticut to use automated red light and speed cameras. The city's application to use the cameras — which has to be approved by the Connecticut Department of Transportation before a municipality can install them — received the go-ahead on May 23, paving the way for the automated enforcement to be used on three city streets, including two near schools. 'It is designed to reduce the dangerous conditions within our community overall, and at the selected locations specifically,' Erik Costa, chief of the Middletown Police Department, wrote in the application to the state. 'These dangerous conditions contribute to traffic collisions, serious injuries and deaths involving pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and vulnerable roadway users on our roads.' Middletown is the third municipality to receive approval for use of the cameras and the first city in the state to get the green light. Town officials in Washington received approval of their application in December, and an application in Marlborough was OK'd earlier this month. According to the DOT, applications remain pending in Greenwich, Hamden, New Haven, Stamford, Stratford and Wethersfield. The devices could be in use in Middletown as early as July. For the first 30 days, written warnings will be issued, the DOT said. After that, fines can be as high as $50 for the first offense and can jump to as much as $75 for the second and subsequent offenses. The money that is generated must be used 'for the purposes of improving transportation mobility, investing in transportation infrastructure improvements or paying for the costs associated with the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices,' according to the DOT. In Middletown, the three sites where the cameras will be installed include on Route 66 between Woodgate Drive and George Street; Westfield Street between McCormick Lane and Bailey Road; and Country Club Road between Higby Road and Knox Boulevard. The Middletown Police Department includes a two-officer Traffic Unit which is responsible for 42 miles of roads and is 'unable to address all traffic concerns,' the city's application states. 'Controlling speeds through an automated enforcement system will help address certain increased safety concerns.' The speed limit on Route 66 is 35 mph, but police regularly report drivers going more than 70 mph, according to the application. 'Westbound vehicles are on a steep decline as they enter a densely populated area with an apartment complex and active business district,' Costa wrote. 'Additionally, the straight roadway feature entices motorists to accelerate through the area, leading to high-speed vehicles causing near miss crashes for motorists attempting to ingress and egress the residential and commercial driveways located along this path.' A speed study conducted on Route 66 found that, on average, a little more than 30,000 vehicles use the road each day. According to city's speed camera application, a little more than 75% of motorists were found to be going more than 10 mph over the speed limit. Westfield Street falls within a school zone near Spencer Elementary School. The road has a 20 mph speed limit and sits within a residential neighborhood. 'The sidewalks and crosswalks positioned along the roadway are regularly utilized by school children,' Costa wrote. Westfield Street is a heavily traveled road often used by motorists accessing Route 217 and Route 66, the application states. It also sees a heavy uptick in travel during drop-off and pick-up times at the school. A speed study found that an average of about 15,443 drivers use the road each day, with just under 50% of them going more than 10 mph over the speed limit, according to Costa. Country Club Road was chosen as one of the sites because it's a 'winding roadway with minimal shoulder space,' Costa wrote. 'The road landscape and layout make it dangerous for law enforcement to effectively enforce speed limits or conduct safe traffic stops,' Costa added. The road is often used to get to Interstate 91 and Route 3, and by commuters traveling to and from Meriden, according to the application. 'Northwest traffic on Country Club Road leads into the mountains leading downhill and then uphill through the Higby Mountain area,' Costa wrote. 'Vehicles traveling southeast enter two consecutive blind curves that limit sightlines leading to high-speed vehicles and near miss crashes for motorists attempting to ingress and egress the many residential driveways located along this path.' Country Club Road is also used to get to Moody Elementary School and local soccer fields. 'This speed control area is a long straightaway, flanked by s-curves on either end,' Costa states. 'High speed acceleration in this straightaway leads to safety concerns as vehicles navigate the S-curves, parks, school, and cross traffic within this area.' A traffic study on Country Club Road found that it averages about 1,213 motorists each day, with a whopping 99% of drivers going more than 10 mph over the 25 mph speed limit, according to the city's application.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Incognito police vehicles begin catching law violators in Northern California
( — The California Highway Patrol unveiled specially marked patrol vehicles this month to help them operate more discreetly when catching people who break the law. So far, it seems to be working. CHP in the Yuba-Sutter area said it was issued a new incognito vehicle on Wednesday. Almost immediately, it caught a Lexus driving at a dangerous speed on the freeway. CHP unveils new fleet of bold colored vehicles 'We made it exactly two miles from Fleet Operations in West Sacramento when we had the Lexus cruise by us at 97 miles per hour in the carpool lane,' CHP said. 'Our officer had an electronic ticket device, which made quick work of issuing an out-of-area citation to the driver.' CHP said the citing was the purpose of the new vehicles. 'He didn't see us when he passed us. This is what these SMPV's are designed to do – To stop the egregious offenders.' CHP added, 'Pre-answering the question on how to avoid being stopped by this SMPV? Simply obey the rules of the road and you will never see it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Ottawa police issue 24 tickets during one-night enforcement blitz
Ottawa police hit the brakes on several drivers during a blitz of car meets in the city's west end last weekend. The Ottawa Police Service said as part of the ongoing Residents Matter traffic enforcement initiative, officers targeted car meets and conducted a RIDE checkpoint near the ByWard Market last Friday night. Police say 'multiple tickets' were issued to drivers participating in car meets in the area of Merivale Road and Meadowlands Drive and on Strandherd Drive. 'Following the car meets, officers set up a RIDE program in the Sussex Drive and King Edward Avenue area. A total of 250 vehicles were screened as they exited the ByWard Market,' police said. Twenty-four tickets were issued during the enforcement initiative, including two tickets for speeding, two for improper muffler, two tickets for the licence plate not being plainly visible and one ticket for using a cellphone while driving. A G1 driver driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver was also ticketed. 'Several Part III Court Summons were also issued, including one to a G1 driver operating a vehicle unaccompanied, without insurance, and while under licence suspension. Another driver was charged for driving with a suspended licence,' police said.
