Maui Police Red Light Enforcement Nets 359 Citations

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

By Wendy Osher

Maui police issued 359 citations to red light and stop sign violators during a two week “Stop or Get Stopped” traffic enforcement campaign that concluded on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014.

The traffic safety initiative also resulted in 69 citations for motorists who were caught driving without a license, 134 citations for motorists driving without insurance, and 32 DUI arrests, police said.

In a campaign recap, Sergeant Nick Krau, supervisor of the DUI Task Force Unit said, “Although law enforcement efforts are an important part of public safety, we rely heavily on the cooperation of the pubic to be aware of and to follow all traffic laws, whether as a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorist.”

In a press release statement he said, “Although this campaign has come to an end, the impact and awareness raised during this short initiative will continue to reduce traffic collisions and improve the safety on our roadways for quite some time.”

Police said the goal of the campaign was to raise awareness, educate the public, and “gain voluntary compliance.”

Police offered the following tips relating to traffic signals and compliance:

• 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.