Police out Monday, Wednesday solely to enforce traffic violations

Grant will allow for extra enforcement

Police will be solely fixed on traffic violations in La Crosse County today and Wednesday, thanks to a couple of grants.

From speeding and distracted driving to OWIs, officers will be dedicated entirely to traffic.

“The grant allows officers to go out there, just solely to enforce traffic violations,” La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Horstman said. “On any given day, we receive 50 or more driving complaints.”

Without the grant, Hortsman said police are, essentially, doing police work, and don’t have time for anything else.

“All agencies are busy responding to calls for service and in between those calls, we do our best to enforce many traffic violations,” Hortsman said.

Horstman says officers will be out mostly during peak travel times – 5-6 p.m. – and also later, looking for drunk drivers.

The sheriff’s office and many other agencies in the area are teaming together for the special enforcement, but Hortsman said the officers aren’t just out to write tickets.

“We’re not out there trying to catch you, but we do have the responsibility to take enforcement action that does prevent accidents and does save lives,” he said.