Lakeside area officers under the command of SVT traffic department chief Alberto Alvarez Ahumada implemented intense patrol operations throughout the recent holiday season, carrying out a strict crackdown on wayward drivers.
Alvarez reports that his staff issued 1,293 traffic tickets between December 19 and January 7. Most violations were for drivers and passengers spotted without their seatbelts in place. Other drivers were pulled over for speeding, circulating with missing license plates or using mobile phones while behind the wheel.
A team of SVT technicians assisted in random spot checks to detect drunk drivers, applying an average of 33 breathalyzer exams every day from December 21 to 31. Nearly all subjects ended up testing negative or below the legal limit. Two drivers registered in the low blood alcohol range, meriting a fine. Two more were sufficiently intoxicated to have their vehicles retained.