TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DROP WITH PRESENCE OF DRUG TASK FORCE

Gwinnett County police say there has been a marked decrease in traffic
collisions since its Highway Interdiction Team --- primarily focused on
nabbing drug traffickers --- began patrolling the interstates early this year.

There were 500 fewer accidents on I-85 and I-985 during the six-month
period from March 1 to Oct. 1, compared to the same time frame last year,
said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli. The number of
accidents dropped from 1,905 in 2007 to 1,434 in 2008. That is about two
fewer accidents every day, Schiralli said.

"It appears that the high visibility of patrols is making an impact on the
drivers along the interstate," Schiralli said. "The mere presence of an
active law enforcement unit such as H.I.T. is influencing driver behavior
without interfering with the criminal interdiction mission." Gwinnett
police believe the department's DUI Task Force, which lately has been
concentrating its efforts on the interstates, also is contributing to the
decrease in motor vehicle accidents.

The Highway Interdiction Team was formed earlier this year to intercept
drugs and other criminal activity on the interstates.

Since February, six officers on the team have seized more than $12 million
worth of drugs and arrested more than 60 people on a variety of charges,
said supervisor Sgt. Jim Price.

The H.I.T. targets aggressive drivers and equipment violations more often
than speeders. However, people are slowing down and driving more carefully
when they see the patrol cars, Price said.

"We may sit in the same spot for 30, 40, 50 minutes before we stop
somebody, but everybody going by sees the police," said Price. "We noticed
immediately the reduction in the accidents when we started getting out,
especially on the two-lane portion north of I-985. We're out here,
everybody knows we're out here and they're driving more cautiously."