If you take U.S. Highway 101 off the North Olympic Peninsula while the Hood Canal Bridge is closed, don’t be surprised if you see a lot of law enforcement.
According to police agencies patrolling the highway during the closure, the point is to be as visible as possible.
“The idea is that if we have a very high visibility, people won’t try to get away with anything,” said Linda Pfafman, traffic task force coordinator for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
“All the speed and traffic safety laws are going to be strictly enforced, and we will be there to immediately take care of it.”
Pfafman said her department, along with the Washington State Patrol and Port Townsend police, are all planning to increase their presence along the stretches of Highway 101 near Brinnon and Quilcene, Center Road between Highways 101 and 104 and all of Highway 104 during the bridge closure.
“We have aggressively gone after funding to have extra officers out on the road,” Pfafman said.
“We got it and now we will be very viable and on the scene.
“If a disabled vehicle blocks the roadway, we will be there.
“If we have someone illegally passing or driving erratically, we will be there.”
State overtime funds
Funds through the state Traffic Safety Commission are paying for officer overtime to patrol the areas during the bridge closure.
Pfafman said they expect to be busy for the six-week closure.
“We expect our ticketing to really rise,” she said.
“When the bridge has been temporarily closed before, we saw tickets rise significantly in Quilcene and Brinnon for speeding.
“We are asking people to be patient, plan ahead and call 9-1-1 if they see erratic driving.”
Port Townsend city police officers will be heading down to the southern end of East Jefferson County during the closure to help out.
“The roads are going to be extremely crowded,” said Sgt. Joe Kaare.
“Everyone is going to be coming up 101, and that is an area we have been asked to help patrol.”
Kaare said he expects to have one or two officers in the area at any given time.
“A bad collision can block Highway 101 for quite some time,” Kaare said.
“With all the traffic, it could be worse.
“We want to be prepositioned to help in case that happens.”
Bad time for a bad crash
A bad collision is an event the State Patrol is hoping won’t take place during the closure.
According to Trooper Krista Hedstrom, there have been no fatal collisions on the North Olympic Peninsula so far in 2009.
“Now would be a bad time to start,” Hedstrom said.
“We want people to know that, chances are, if you get called in for driving erratically, we will be in the area.”
Just like Jefferson County agencies, the state will be watching the roads carefully.
“Extra enforcement patrols will be in place throughout the closure,” said State Patrol Lt. Clint Casebolt.
“If the State Patrol begins receiving reports of aggressive or reckless driving, there is a good chance a trooper will be in the area, and you will be stopped and ticketed.”
“Our goal is to see zero fatalities or serious-injury collisions during this time period.”
Also of concern for public safety has been the location of Quilcene schools near Highway 101.
“We’re right on it,” said Jim Betteley, principal at the kindergarten-through-12th grade school.
“We’re seriously feet away from the highway.”
Betteley said the schools would be replacing student crossing guards with adults for the crosswalks across Highway 101 during the closure.
Also, he intends to keep the flashing school zone lights going from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on school days.
“We have sports and parks and recreation here at night,” Betteley said.
“We don’t want anyone to get hurt during this time.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
