By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
While many were escaping weekend heat by lounging in front of the television or soaking in the beach, Atmore police officers were putting in overtime.
As part of the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, the Atmore Police Department gave officers a chance for overtime pay to help catch speeding drivers.
From July 26 through 29, police officers participating in the speed enforcement program wrote a total of 35 speeding tickets and handed out 27 warnings to drivers within the city limits.
The grant, supplied by the federal government, is giving law enforcement offices throughout the state an opportunity to pay overtime salaries to help enforce a variety of traffic laws. APD Assistant Chief Donnie Nunley said the grants serve the department and the community in a variety of ways.
Nunley said officers are making the most of the opportunity for extra pay and that they are taking their duty during those extra hours very seriously.
In addition to the recent speeding citations and warnings, the APD issued the following during their overtime duties: 11 driver's license citations, 12 misdemeanor arrests, one felony arrest (warrant), three drug possession arrests, one seatbelt ticket, 32 seatbelt warnings, two child restraint tickets and 37 child restraint warnings.
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has continued to participate in the program as well. On July 28, from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m., DUI checkpoints were held on Hwy. 113, outside of Flomaton, and Hwy. 41, outside of Brewton and East Brewton.
During the DUI checkpoints the following citations and warnings were issued: three reports for DUI were issued, five citations and eight warnings for seat belt violations, nine citations and 18 warnings for driver's license citations, nine citations and 38 warnings for insurance violations, five drug-related cases were reported, two felony warrants were served, three misdemeanor warrants were served.
The ECSO filed wrote a total of 40 tickets and 83 warnings during the check.