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News Releases
Violation of the Month: Speeding
August, 2007
According to the Stevens Point Police Department, one of the most common factors contributing to reportable
accidents is speeding. Many people seem to feel justified in bending the rules when it comes to speeding. Police
officers spend a great deal of time trying to modify this behavior by using radar enforcement of the established
speed limits. The goal of radar enforcement is not to write as many tickets as possible, but to gain compliance
with the law and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
The fine for speeding 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit in a 25 mile per hour zone is $160.80, and a violation
also adds three points to your driver's record. Fine amounts and point values are higher for more excessive speeding.
Violations of greater than 20 miles per hour over the limit in construction zones and 65 mile per hour zones also
come with mandatory driver's license suspensions. Violations of this nature will greatly affect the insurance premiums
of persons found guilty of driving at these excessive speeds.
Please help us make our streets safer by building extra time into your day and driving slower, which could also
potentially save you a lot of money by avoiding a speeding fine.
Consumer Safety Tips from the S.P.P.D.
July, 2007
The Stevens Point Police Department has been notified of several telephone call scam attempts
on city residents. Thankfully, in these cases, the persons receiving the calls did not provide any personal financial
information to the callers and did not lose any money. We encourage all persons to be very careful with their financial
information and to verify with whom they are doing business before providing account numbers or credit card information.
In addition, over the past month, we have had several complaints about door-to-door sales persons operating without
the required permit.
When you receive unsolicited offers, whether on the phone or from a door-to-door sales person, it is very important
to check references or ask for and verify their business contact information before committing any money or providing
account numbers of any type. If someone refuses to provide this type of information or tells you that the delay
will nullify their offer, terminate all contact with them immediately. Never give in to high pressure tactics,
and don't do business with anyone that will not provide the information you request.
Stevens Point and Portage County require that all door to door sales persons apply for, and receive, a direct seller's
permit before selling. Businesses that call ahead and schedule visits, and people engaged in selling in support
of a non-profit organization, are exempt from having to obtain a permit. If someone shows up at your door selling
a product or service, and you have not had prior contact with them, ask to see their permit. The licensing process
requires that a home office address and phone number have been verified and that the person has had a criminal
background check done before they are allowed to come knocking on your door.
Following these consumer tips can protect you from becoming a victim of fraud, and save you a lot of money.
Violation of the Month - Seat Belt/Child Restraint
May, 2006
Wearing a seat belt or placing your child in a properly installed child restraint can be a determining factor in whether a person survives a car crash. In fatal crashes during 2003 in Wisconsin, 73% of those restrained survived the crash; while in those same crashes, only 26% of those not wearing some restraint device survived.
Wisconsin motorists' compliance with the mandatory seat belt law ranks the lowest in the Midwest and among the lowest nationally with a compliance rate of 73.3%. Other states in the region have rates that range from a high of 92.9% in Michigan to the next lowest of 78.7% in Ohio.
Later this month, the Stevens Point Police Department and other local police jurisdictions will be participating in the Click It or Ticket special enforcement effort in an attempt to raise our local compliance rate. We will be doing traffic surveys to determine our pre and post enforcement effort compliance rates, and we'll have extra officers working overtime to do seat belt and restraint device enforcement.
Next month, a new law goes into effect mandating that children between the ages of 4 and 8 be restrained either in a child or a booster seat. Those children who weigh more than 80 pounds or are taller than 4 foot 9 inches are exempt from this regulation and must be restrained by a seat belt.
Studies have shown that regular seat belts are not
as effective for children under those height and weight benchmarks. Studies have also shown that up to 80% of child
restraints are not properly installed. If you would like to check and see if your seat is properly installed, you
may call the Portage County Child Passenger Safety Association at 341-7328 to schedule an appointment or stop at
one of their safety check days which are advertised throughout the year.
Execution of Search Warrant results in Drug
Seizure
April 21, 2006
On April 21, 2006, at approximately 8:23 a.m., officers
from the Stevens Point Police Department with the assistance of deputies from the Portage County Sheriff's Department
executed a search warrant at Road Star Inn after obtaining evidence that patrons at the hotel were selling illegal
drugs. Officers searched two hotel rooms and three vehicles. The use of hotels for the distribution of drugs by
transient drug dealers can be a problem for all hotels and not specific to Road Star Inn.
Officers discovered at the scene drug paraphernalia, 5.8 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately $2,600.00 cash.
A male subject was arrested and taken to the Portage County Jail on numerous charges. All persons involved were
from the Madison area. The investigation is continuing.
Violation of the Month - Improper Bicycle Operation
April, 2006
The Stevens Point Police Department is stepping up enforcement of bicycle violations during
the month of April. Bicyclists are required to follow the rules of the road just as are drivers of other vehicles.
The most common violations we see involving bicycles are: bicycles operated at night without a light; failure to
stop at stop signs; and riding double on a bike designed for one person. We will concentrate on these violations
because they put bicyclists at greater risk of an accident.
We also remind motorists to be watchful for bicycles. A number of accidents occur when a bicyclist has the right
of way and a driver makes a turn or proceeds from a stop sign into the path of an oncoming bicycle. Bicyclists
not only have the same responsibilities as motorists, but also the same rights, and are entitled to the same considerations.
The City of Stevens Point requires that all bikes using the roadways be registered. Registration can be done at
the service window of the Stevens Point Police Department. The cost is $3 and the registration is non-expiring.