Operation SPEED Nets 813 Citations, 5 Arrests

Speed Enforcement Team officers along Kahului Beach Road on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Maui police issued a total of 813 citations, 633 of them for speeding, during the week-long Operation SPEED campaign that began on Monday, July 21 and concluded on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

Maui police say that of the citations issued, 633 were for speeding, 16 for excessive speeding, 21 for using a mobile electronic device while driving, 25 for seat belt infractions, and 118 for other violations.

“Our primary goal during the operation was to make Maui County’s roadways safe for the entire public to use, and to reduce the number of motor vehicle collisions in which death occurs, as it is related to speeding,” said Traffic Section Sergeant William Hankins in a post-operation press release.

Officers also made five arrests during the enforcement campaign including two for outstanding warrants, and two for operating a vehicle while under the influence.

The other arrest was for failing to obey a police officers’ orders, and resisting arrest.  The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, on the Haleakalā Highway when police say the individual failed to follow instructions of the officer and fled the scene of the stop.  The individual was identified in earlier reports as mayoral candidate Beau Hawkes, who was located later the same morning in Wailuku Town.

The enforcement campaign included patrols of all major Maui highways.

According to police reports, the department issued a total of 4,410 speeding citations in Maui County last year, and a total of 634 citations (530 of them for speeding) during a similar enforcement campaign held in July of 2013.

The fines for driving over the speed limit are estimated at around $122 for driving 11 mph over the limit; $142 for driving 15 mph over the limit; and $167 for driving 20 mph over the limit.

According to Maui police, motorists that are caught driving 30 mph or more over the posted speed limit face a mandatory court appearance. The violation is considered a criminal offense under excessive speeding laws.