You Drive in Yakima? Yakima Police Say Stop For That Red Light

Yakima Police say drivers running red lights and getting in crashes isn't stopping despite ongoing patrols and hundreds of drivers being cited every week in the city.

RED LIGHT RUNNERS CONTINUE CRASHING INTO OTHER DRIVERS

Officers say during the week July 23 though July 29 they made 735 traffic stops and issued 296 citations. 37 crashes were investigated throughout the city but 12 were the result of drivers ignoring a red light or trying to drive through the intersection before a yellow light turns red.

UNFORTUNATELY NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO PATROL RED LIGHTS

It's a problem that Capt. Jay Seely says is frustrating at the least for many drivers who want to avoid getting in a crash. He says they know that placing an Officer at specific intersections would make a big difference and would likely lower crash numbers but that's not possible because of a lack of available Officers.
Seely says every Officer is required to make 3 to 4 traffic stops every day on top of regular patrol duties.

NUMBERS AREN'T CHANGING MUCH FROM WEEK TO WEEK

The number of red light crashes have been similar for months. In fact during the week of July 16 through the 22nd Officers investigated 24 collisions, 12 the result of drivers not stopping for a red light. They stopped 677 drivers and issued 234 citations. 9 drivers were arrested for DUI.
A lot of numbers but numbers that are consistent despite the ongoing patrols that happen 24-hours a day.