CMPD Issues 64 Citations in Two-Hour Red-Light Enforcement Operation

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police wrote 64 tickets during a two-hour traffic operation at a University City intersection on Feb. 6. Officers called it Operation Red Zone. They set up at W.T. Harris Boulevard and North Tryon Street, watching for drivers who ran red lights.

Police pulled over 54 cars in those two hours. Forty-one tickets went to drivers who blew through red lights, according to a Charlotte Observer report.

Why this spot? Crashes. Lots of them.

CMPD picked the intersection after reviewing crash records. The data showed drivers kept running red lights there, causing wrecks.

Officers caught other problems too. Six drivers got tickets for expired or invalid tags. Four weren't wearing seatbelts. Three people were driving without a license.

This crackdown shows how the department tackles safety problems at dangerous intersections. Operation Red Zone lets officers focus manpower where violations cause the most collisions.

A CMPD spokesperson said people can contact their division office or community coordinator about traffic problems. Residents who see dangerous driving or frequent violations at certain spots can reach out to their local division.

The February operation was one of several targeted efforts aimed at cutting down crashes. Police haven't said when or where they'll run Operation Red Zone next.

Do the math: officers made more than one stop every two minutes. That many violations suggest drivers routinely ignore the signals at this intersection.

CMPD has division offices across Mecklenburg County where residents can report traffic safety concerns. Community coordinators partner with neighborhoods to address speeding, red-light running, and other violations.