Once again the spring sun and green leaves show themselves to us. As the days get longer and longer and the temperature gets warmer and warmer, we find ourselves involved with more outdoor activities. Among those activities are certainly numerous family get-togethers, cookouts, and other activities where alcoholic beverages are consumed. It is important for us as responsible adults to keep tabs on how much we consume and be mature enough and responsible enough to stop drinking early or have arrangements made in advance for a designated driver. It is simply not worth arrest, court costs, criminal fines and convictions, and loss of life. Those of us, virtually all of us, who use the public roadways with our vehicles are responsible for not only a reasonable expectation of safety, but we owe it to other motorists, as well. Let us all work responsibly together in sharing a safe roadway!

If you haven't already noticed, our radar trailer is nearly complete with refitting and retrofitting and has been placed back in service. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me at cseamster@co.smithfield.va.us or click on my picture to e-mail me with any speeding concerns and I will do my best to address those concerns, both through patrol and the use of the radar trailer.

Begining in May and going into June, the Smithfield Police Department will be participating in the national and state "Click it or Ticket" campaign. This is an effort of thousands of law enforcement agencies across the nation in which a concetrated effort is made for the enforcement of seat belt use, child safety restraint use, and other violations such as speeding and DUI. Several thousand dollars in grant money have been earmarked for selective enforcement by officers of the Smithfield Police Department. You will soon notice more patrols and increased public information and awareness efforts to go along with enhanced enforcement. Always remember that seat belts and child safety seats DO SAVE LIVES!

We are still awaiting delivery of our Community Traffic Safety Program Trailer. I will certainly post the latest information and keep you appraised of this project's development. Until I write again, please DRIVE SAFE and BUCKLE UP!