Police Enforcement Ramps Up for 'Safe Streets'

In an effort to thwart traffic violations in Montgomery County, police officials on Wednesday launched Operation Safe Streets in Silver Spring.

About 35 traffic officers patrolled the Georgia Avenue corridor—from the Maryland state line bordering Washington, DC, to Connecticut Avenue.

Police officers from multiple districts—including Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Rockville—stopped people for various reasons, such as pedestrian violations, speeding, running red lights and seatbelt violations.

Enforcement will happen throughout the year spontaneously on different roads in the county, said county police spokeswoman Lucille Baur.

“By periodically using officers from each of the districts, enforcement can be conducted on a longer stretch than it would be possible using only traffic officers assigned to that particular district," she said.

The concentrated enforcement in one major street isn’t taking all traffic officers away during the four-hour block, she added.

The increase of police presence was welcomed by Silver Spring resident William Abbott. He lives a few blocks away from Georgia Avenue and witnesses bus drivers running red lights and not waiting for pedestrians.

“I was almost hit twice while walking my dog,” Abbott said.

Police officials hailed Wednesday’s kick-off of Operation Safe Streets as a success.

In total, 156 traffic citations were issued on Wednesday for speeding and aggressive driving behaviors. There were 248 written warnings. Of those written warnings, 179 were given to pedestrians who didn’t cross the street safely.

“I believe that with police officers being out there, it was really educational,” said county police spokesman Capt. Paul Starks.

County police will conduct the next traffic enforcement collaboration on May 11. Officials will monitor Veirs Mill Road from Atlantic Avenue in Twinbrook to Randolph Road in Silver Spring, and the intersections of Old Georgetown Road and Commerce Street and  Wisconsin and Bethesda avenues in Bethesda.

What do you think about street monitoring by county police?