Maui Police Conduct Red Light Enforcement, Oct. 6-19

Stop or get stopped campaign. Maui Now graphics by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui Police Department will launch a two week “Stop or Get Stopped” red light enforcement campaign that begins on Monday, Oct. 6 and continues until Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014.

Police say the campaign will focus on motorists who disregard stop signs and red traffic signal lights.

“Officers will also focus on motorist that block intersections or are caught stopped in the intersection after the traffic signal light turns red,” a police department press release said.

Traffic Section Sergeant Nick Krau announced the campaign saying, “Studies report the reduction of traffic law violations and motor vehicle crashes when enforcement action is used.”

He offered the following tips and guidelines relating to traffic signals:

• What to do if the traffic signal is totally dark: The intersection automatically becomes a 4-way stop. All drivers are required to stop at the intersection, then proceed as if the intersection had stop signs controlling all approaches unless law enforcement or other authorized persons are directing traffic.
• What to do if the signal is in flashing mode: drivers having a flashing red light are to stop and yield to other drivers before proceeding through the intersection. Drivers having a flashing yellow light are to proceed with caution.
• What does an illuminated yellow traffic signal light mean: vehicular traffic facing the steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.

Police say they will target enforcement in areas based on data gathered from crashes, citations, and locations where citizens have raised concerns over stop sign and stop light violators.