DUI Checkpoints & Crime on the Road, Sobriety Checkpoints

Thunder Taskforce Storms Into Middle Georgia

90-Day Crackdown On Houston County’S Deadliest Dui Drivers

Central Georgia Drivers Beware! Houston County now ranks among the state’s “Deadly Dozen List” of Georgia counties with abnormally high occurrences of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. So starting Friday, November 6, 2009, DUI Enforcement Units from across the state will launch a “THUNDER-Motorcade” to announce Georgia’s ROLLING THUNDER TASKFORCE traffic safety operation here.  The motorcade kicks-off a 3:00 PM news conference to announce a three-month crack-down on drunk drivers, illegal speeders and unbelted motorists throughout Houston  County.  The ninety day objective is to make Central Georgia a safer place to drive.

News Media Invited!  Police Photo-Op Here Friday!  Police will secure a camera area on the Russell Parkway Bridge over I-75 as a vantage point for photographers to document the ROLLING THUNDER police motorcade en-route to the enforcement briefing.

WHAT:     The GOHS THUNDER TASKFORCE is coming! The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety issues a Speed and DUI Crackdown Advisory to high-risk drivers in Houston County.

WHEN:    News Conference, Friday, November 6, at 3:00 PM, NEWS MEDIA INVITED

WHERE:    Russell Parkway Bridge over I-75 in Houston County.

WHO:    The THUNDER TASKFORCE will deploy a combined operation of about 100 Houston County Sheriff’s Deputies & Officers from Perry, Centerville and Warner Robins city Police Departments; local law enforcement agencies from the Middle Georgia  Traffic Enforcement Network (MGTEN) supported by a force multiplier from Georgia State Patrol Troop G and DPS Motor Carrier Compliance Division and a specially-qualified contingent of GOHS H.E.A.T. Units from Walton, Paulding, Douglas, Barrow, and Bibb County Sheriff’s Offices and Dublin, Winder, and Henry County Police Departments.

WHAT’S NEXT:   News Photographers should set up to shoot footage of the ROLLING THUNDER TASKFORCE MOTORCADE by 2:30 PM. The News Conference follows immediately after the 3:00 PM motorcade on the Russell Parkway Bridge. Then, the TASKFORCE sets up THUNDER Command Center at Centerville City Hall at 300 E. Church Street in Centerville. Reporters may cover deployment briefings and sobriety roadchecks that follow. Law enforcement ride-alongs will be available on request. THUNDER Checkpoints continue at unannounced times during each wave.

(Houston County, GA) Today the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) announced a ninety-day high-visibility roll-out of the THUNDER TASKFORCE to target high-risk drivers in Houston County for the Winter Quarter of 2009. Houston County meets the definition of a “high crash corridor” on the GOHS “Deadly Dozen” list of Georgia counties with abnormally high occurrences of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. Houston County has also reported higher than average fatality crashes this year. The THUNDER TASKFORCE MISSION is to help reduce those highway deaths and serious injuries by changing the illegal driving behaviors of motorists through an increased law enforcement presence in these high crash corridors.

GOHS HIGHWAY ADVISORY:  As of November 6th the travel forecast for Central Georgia calls for THUNDER!

For more information about Houston County THUNDER TASKFORCE events and scheduling contact GOHS Law Enforcement Coordinator Powell Harralson at 912-313-1581 or pharrelson@gohs.ga.gov or Captain Roger Hayes, MGTEN Coordinator, Centerville PD at 478-808-3426 or rhayes1@windstream.net .

For more information:
Jim Shuler, GOHS Public Affairs
404-656-6996 or 888-420-0767
jshuler@gohs.ga.gov
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