Memphis Drivers May Face Unexpected Changes as Police Increase Night Patrols | Carscoops
Police introduce a new night shift to combat reckless driving, fraudulent tags, and elevated crash rates
21 hours ago
by Stephen Rivers
The MPD is initiating a permanent nighttime traffic shift aimed at reducing accidents and apprehending reckless drivers.
Officers will monitor high-crash areas such as Poplar, Summer, and Lamar Avenues.
The initiative focuses on speeding, drag racing, distracted driving, and counterfeit drive-out tags.
In many American cities, traffic safety has re-emerged as a priority due to drivers treating speed limits as mere suggestions. Memphis, Tennessee, is set to see a decrease in speed as drivers accustomed to reckless driving to keep pace with traffic should expect an increase in police presence.
The Memphis Police Department reports that it is launching a series of new strategies to mitigate dangerous driving behavior. This effort begins with a new established night shift aimed at reclaiming the streets.
According to MPD’s Traffic Division Commander, Colonel Willie Mathena, this new shift is a response to data and public concern: "We analyze the data and listen to the citizens of Memphis. Based on that data, we realized we needed to establish an afternoon shift concentrated on traffic enforcement to enhance street safety," he told FOX13. This means increased patrols at night when speeding, distracted driving, and street racing are more prevalent.
**Targeting Hot Spots**
However, it won’t only be racers, reckless drivers, or speeders who face consequences. Mathena indicated that the department will also seek out distracted drivers, those who are impaired, and the notorious ‘drive-out’ or temporary tags. He emphasized that officers sometimes discover these tags are fake or even bought online.
The department has identified trouble areas, including high-crash zones like Winchester and Riverdale, Shelby and Airways, and the Poplar Avenue corridor. Officers will focus their patrols in these locations during peak crash times, aiming to lower accident rates and ensure safety for late-night travelers.
**Coordinated Enforcement Efforts**
In addition to everyday enforcement, the city is also organizing time-limited special operations as opportunities arise. On September 19, it collaborated with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol to target hazardous driving. This joint initiative resulted in 200 citations, multiple seizures, and one felony arrest. More operations like this are expected as the National Guard is set to arrive in the city soon.
Having lived in Memphis and regularly driving through, I can personally attest to the fact that many drivers exceed safe speeds while police presence is less frequent than it should be. The aforementioned streets are known for dubious activities, so hopefully, this new shift will contribute to making the roads safer.
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Memphis Drivers May Face Unexpected Changes as Police Increase Night Patrols | Carscoops
The police have initiated a new night shift aimed at combating reckless driving, counterfeit license plates, and elevated crash rates.