They've only been on the job a few weeks, but the city's newest rookie cops already have earned high praise from Sandy Police Chief Sam Dawson.
Not bad for a couple of machines.Dawson on Wednesday released statistics from the first 101/2 hours of tests the force is conducting on its new Community Accident Reduction Effort, otherwise known - in West Valley, anyway - as PhotoCop. The program's pair of mechanical officers, Speed Camera and Speed Trailer, compiled data during a two-week period this month that convinced Dawson they are sorely needed in this community.
Between June 5-19, while stationed only in school zones throughout the city, the devices monitored 1,289 vehicles and issued warning citations to 58 of the drivers.
"This points out the seriousness (of the problem) and the need for this type of equipment," Dawson said in a press conference. "The whole purpose and idea is to modify the behavior . . . to get people to slow down in Sandy."
During the initial tests, a total of 74 vehicles were going fast enough - at least five miles per hour over the limit - to trigger the Speed Camera. That's seven cars per hour that didn't obey the school-zone speed limit.
City officials now have a better idea why an average of one and a half Sandy children are struck by cars, while riding a bike or walking, each week.
Dawson said the Speed Camera will remain in school zones for another six to eight weeks, issuing warnings only. By late summer, it will be moved into residential neighborhoods, where it will issue both warnings and actual tickets. Eventually, it will stop issuing warnings and give all violators tickets.
Dawson and Mayor Tom Dolan said Sandy residents they've talked to are in favor of the program. The only complaints have come from residents of other cities who've been issued warnings.