Street Racing, Speeders Emphasis Patrols Continue

Yakima Police continue emphasis patrols as the weather warms, COVID-19 numbers are dropping and people are getting out of the house more. Officers from the department continue to conduct the patrols with the help of Yakima residents who post problem traffic areas on the YPD Facebook page. Capt. Jay Seely says people tell them where they believe they need officers help with speeding or other traffic problems and officers respond by concentrating traffic control in those specific areas. He says the emphasis patrols that started earlier this year will continue through the spring and summer. Every week officers choose an area either from the YPD Facebook page or an area where they've found traffic problems themselves. On average police are making some 200 stops every week. Some drivers are getting warnings some are being cited.
Authorities say street racing becomes a big concern during the spring and summer months. On Tuesday the Yakima City Council requested a report on street racing to be in front of the council at the next city council meeting. Some people in the city are telling city council members they want help with street racing problems in specific areas of the city including parts of West Valley.
Officers are giving special attention to city street projects looking for drivers speeding in and around construction zones.

The emphasis patrols aren't just happening in the spring and summer months. Capt. Seely says the patrols are now part of department policy and they're conducted every week of the year within city limits with the help of people telling police about problem areas on the department Facebook page.