Category Traffic Enforcement

Oct 23 2022

Fatality Accident

WFPD officers responded this afternoon at 4:05 pm to the intersection of Southwest Parkway and Taft Blvd to investigate an injury crash.

The officers arrived and discovered a Suzuki motorcycle that was traveling west bound through the intersection struck the passenger side of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The truck was turning left from Southwest Parkway to travel north bound on Taft Blvd when the crash occurred.

The driver of the motorcycle, 33-year-old Laramie James Reid of Iowa Park, Texas, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The 67-year-old female driver and sole occupant of the Ford F-150 was not injured.

Reid was wearing a helmet when the crash occurred.

This investigation is still pending.

According to the WFPD Crash Investigations Unit, this is the 17th vehicle crash related death in Wichita Falls for the year 2022.

Oct 4 2022

4th Quarter and Year End Comprehensive STEP Grant Totals Released

The largest portion of traffic safety funding from TxDOT is used for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) projects, which pay for overtime activities by local law enforcement to reduce the incidence of speeding, driving while intoxicated, failure to use occupant restraint systems, distracted driving (cell phones), and intersection traffic control violations. Organizations eligible for STEP funds include the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), Sheriff’s Offices, Constable’s Offices, and local Police Departments.

4th Quarter FY 2022 (July 1 – September 30) TXDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Stats:

Adult Seatbelt Violations-36

Child Safety Seat Violations-1

Intersection Violations-28

Speeding Violations-339

Distracted Driving-6

Non-Hazardous Violations-46

Warnings-103

Arrests-1

Vehicles Impounded-3

Hours Worked-240.5

Miles Driven-2190

FY 2022 TXDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Year-End Totals:

Adult Seatbelt Violations-101

Child Safety Seat Violations-2

Intersection Violations-205

Speeding Violations-1238

Distracted Driving-32

Non-Hazardous Violations-170

Warnings-344

Arrests-5

Vehicles Impounded-10

Hours Worked-845.38

Miles Driven-8233

Jul 21 2022

3rd Quarter STEP Grant Stats

The largest portion of traffic safety funding from TxDOT is used for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) projects, which pay for overtime activities by local law enforcement to reduce the incidence of speeding, driving while intoxicated, failure to use occupant restraint systems, distracted driving (cell phones), and intersection traffic control violations. Organizations eligible for STEP funds include the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), Sheriff’s Offices, Constable’s Offices, and local Police Departments.

The Wichita Falls Police Department has finalized the 3rd Quarter as provided below.

3rd Quarter FY 2022 (April 1st – June 30th ) TxDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Stats:

Adult Seatbelt Citations – 22

Child Safety Seats – 0

Intersection Violations – 48

Speeding – 315

Distracted Driving (Cell Phones) – 12

Non-Hazardous Violations – 29

Warnings – 80

Arrests – 3

Vehicles Impounded – 2

Hours Worked – 217.82

Miles Driven – 2352

FY 2022 TxDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Stat Totals to Date:

Adult Seatbelt Citations – 65

Child Safety Seats – 1

Intersection Violations – 177

Speeding – 899

Distracted Driving (Cell Phones) – 26

Non-Hazardous Violations – 124

Warnings – 241

Arrests – 4

Vehicles Impounded – 7

Hours Worked – 604.88

Miles Driven – 6043

Remember to buckle up and slow down. Your life and the lives of others depend on it.

Jun 28 2022

Operation Slowdown Results

The Wichita Falls Police Department participated in the 1st Operation Slowdown Grant funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The idea behind the grant was to primarily focus on speed violations in high crash areas of the city that involved serious injuries or death.

Officers could also make traffic stops for other hazardous violations such as intersections, seat belts (to include child safety seat violations), and distracted driving (cell phone usage).

The following citations were issued during this two-week campaign from June 7th – June 21st, 2022:

SPEED VIOLATIONS – 455
SEAT BELT VIOLATIONS – 3
CHILD SAFETY SEAT VIOLATIONS – 0
INTERSECTION VIOLATIONS – 4
DISTRACTED DRIVING VIOLATIONS – 1
ARRESTS – 1
ENFORCEMENT HOURS TOTAL – 203.07

Even though this campaign is over, we would like to ask the citizens of Wichita Falls to continue to practice safe driving habits.

Plan your trip and allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination safely.

EndtheStreakTX

Jun 9 2022

Click It or Ticket Memorial Campaign Results (May 23-June 5)

The 2022 Click It or Ticket Memorial Campaign ran from May 23rd – June 5th.

Not only were Officers looking for Seat Belt Violations, they were also looking for other violations which would constitute hazardous driving behaviors.

The following is the data which was gathered from this campaign:

Seat Belt Violations – 177

Child Seat Belt Violations – 9

Intersection Violations – 59

Distracted Driving Violations – 11

Speed Violations – 74

Arrests – 1

Total Stops – 437

Enforcement Hours Worked – 171.67

The purpose of the campaign was to educate the public on the importance of buckling up every time they get into a vehicle and travel on a public roadway. The more people buckle up while driving, the less likely they are to be seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash.

Wichita Falls, let’s continue to do our part.

#EndTheStreakTX

Jun 1 2022

Click It or Ticket

Just a friendly reminder that Click It or Ticket is still going on. Offficers are working special assignments looking for seat belt violations both Day and Night.

2021 was the 2nd most deadly year on Texas roadways since 1940. Of the 4,480 people killed, 1,219 were killed because they were not wearing their seat belt. 1981 was the deadliest year on record in Texas with 4,701 traffic related deaths.

Sadly, there has not be a day go by since November 7th, 2000 that someone hasn’t died on Texas roadways.

Wichita Falls, let’s do our part! Take a few seconds to Buckle Up! It could save your life.

Apr 18 2022

2nd Quarter FY 2022 TxDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Stats

The largest portion of traffic safety funding from TxDOT is used for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) projects, which pay for overtime activities by local law enforcement to reduce the incidence of speeding, driving while intoxicated, failure to use occupant restraint systems, distracted driving (cell phones), and intersection traffic control violations. Organizations eligible for STEP funds include the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), Sheriff’s Offices, Constable’s Offices, and local Police Departments.

The Wichita Falls Police Department has finalized the 2nd Quarter as provided below.

2nd Quarter FY 2022 (January 1st thru March 31st) TxDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Stats:

Adult Seatbelt Citations – 29

Child Safety Seats – 1

Intersection Violations – 56

Speeding – 314

Distracted Driving (Cell Phones) – 10

Non-Hazardous Violations – 49

Warnings – 80

Arrests – 0

Vehicles Impounded – 1

Hours Worked – 196.75

Miles Driven – 1926

FY 2022 TxDOT Comprehensive STEP Grant Stat Totals to Date:

Adult Seatbelt Citations – 43

Child Safety Seats – 1

Intersection Violations – 129

Speeding – 584

Distracted Driving (Cell Phones) – 14

Non-Hazardous Violations – 95

Warnings – 161

Arrests – 1

Vehicles Impounded – 5

Hours Worked – 387.06

Miles Driven – 3691

Remember to buckle up and slow down. Your life and the lives of others depend on it!

Mar 21 2022

Motorcycle Fatality

WFPD officers responded on 03-20-22 at about 8:00 pm to the 3200 block of Iowa Park Road to investigate a vehicle crash involving a motorcycle.

The officers discovered that the Harley Davison motorcycle was traveling west bound on the 3200 block of Iowa Park Road when a Chevy Trailblazer pulled out of the parking lot of the Dollar Saver located on the corner of North Beverly and Iowa Park Road.

The motorcycle struck the Trailblazer causing the driver to be thrown from the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, 56-year-old Susan Driskill of Burkburnett, Texas, was not wearing a helmet during the crash.

Driskill was transported to the URHCS for treatment. Unfortunately, she was pronounced deceased at about 10:30 pm. 

The driver of the Trailblazer was not injured.

The WFPD Accident Investigations section is investigating this incident.

Jan 17 2022

FY 2022 1st Quarter Comprehensive STEP Stat Totals

The largest portion of traffic safety funding from TxDOT is used for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) projects, which pay for overtime activities by local law enforcement to reduce the incidence of speeding, driving while intoxicated, failure to use occupant restraint systems, distracted driving (cell phones), and intersection traffic control violations. Organizations eligible for STEP funds include the Texas Department of Public Safety, Sheriff’s Offices, Constable’s Offices, and local Police Departments.

The following hazardous citations were written during the 1st Quarter (October – December) Comprehensive STEP:

  • Speed – 270
  • Intersections – 73
  • Distracted Driving (Cell Phone Use) – 4
  • Seat Belt Violation (Adult) – 14
  • Seat Belt Violation (Child) – 0

In addition to the hazardous citations, the following citations, warnings or arrests were issued or made:

  • Non- Hazardous – 46
  • Written Warnings – 81
  • Arrests – 1

A total of 190.31 STEP hours were worked by officers and 1765 miles were driven.Remember to buckle up and slow down. Your life and the lives of others depend on it! #EndtheStreakTX

Jul 27 2021

Accident Claims the Life of a Child

***UPDATE TO PREVIOUS NEWS RELEASE***

It grieves our hearts at the WFPD to notify our city family that the three-old child involved in the injury crash on 07-21-21 has passed away. Titan Pendleton died at 9:19 pm on 07-26-21 at Cooks Children’s Medical Center. Sgt. Paul Newton of the WFPD Crash Investigations Unit advised criminal charges are expected to be filed on the mother. Please pray for Titan’s family and our city as we grieve the loss of one of our little one.

ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE:

WFPD officers responded on 07-21-21, at about 3:34 pm, to an injury crash at N. Martin Luther King Blvd and Wichita Street. According to witnesses, a white Dodge Charger was traveling west on Wichita. The Charger was driving the wrong way on a one-way street. As the Charger approached the intersection, the driver failed to stop and was attempting to turn south onto N. Martin Luther King Blvd. A gray Audi Q7 was traveling north on N. Martin Luther King Blvd in the right lane. The driver of the Audi did not have time to stop when the Charger pulled out in front of him. The Audi struck the left passenger compartment of the Charger.

A three-year-old child was sitting in a child safety seat on the side of the impact but was not secured in the child safety seat. The child and the driver of the Charger, the child’s mother, were transported to the hospital.

The child sustained serious injuries and was flown to Cooks Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Tx. The child’s mother also sustained injuries and was being evaluated at the hospital.