Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Why do Special Traffic Enforcement Programs target drunk drivers?"

HBP e-mails Mr. Answer Person: "Why do our local Law Enforcement Officials need to designate a Special Traffic Enforcement Project to target drunk drivers?  Shouldn't they be doing that all the time?  I'm not saying that it's not a legitimate problem but, why don't they ever designate other special projects to target hard crime like drug dealing, drug manufacturing or theft?  It seems its always speeding or seat belts or drunk driving.  I'd like to see them get the drugs out of the schools and off the streets Maybe it is just easier to get the drunk drivers, the horrible speeders and the awful seatbelt violators!"

Mr. Answer Person says: "Whoa--slow down there!  You've taken a big jump from a Labor Day Weekend traffic enforcement program to accusing local police of not doing enough to crack down on drug dealing!

Let's add a little background information that maybe we should have included in our first news story.  The "Special Traffic Enforcement Program" is a NATIONAL program that involves virtually all law enforcement agencies in Iowa nd other states in a cooperative week-long enforcement effort coordinated around a holiday, such as Labor Day.

The STEP gives money to local law enforcement agencies to help pay for overtime costs during the holidays.  It's a way for the federal government to encourage heightened traffic enforcement for all traffic violations with the main effort to raise awareness of safe driving habits.

The program has produced results.  The Fourth of July holiday STEP in Iowa resulted in a total of 15,641 enforcement contacts.  By the way, that STEP resulted in 152 narcotics arrests during that period.