Olathe Police Department doubles down on red light runners
OLATHE, Kan. (KCTV) - The Olathe Police Department is cracking down on red light violations this summer in response to an alarming trend of traffic violations.
Officers are targeting problem areas like K-7 and K-10, where residents have reported increased traffic issues. At the intersection of Santa Fe and Parker, officers pulled over at least 20 drivers in just an hour and a half on Wednesday.
“Most of the time our intersection wrecks involve somebody running a red light,” said Sgt. Drew Fitzpatrick with the Olathe Police Department.
Fitzpatrick says the department is taking a proactive approach to prevent serious crashes. With red light violations happening citywide, the plan is to increase patrols, monitor hotspots, and issue citations.
“We don’t wanna have to work those wrecks where people are seriously injured, so we want people to drive safe,” said Fitzpatrick. “They always use the term ‘arrive alive,’ but take your time. It’s not worth your life or your children’s life.”
The penalty for running a red light in Olathe could include a fine of at least $90. In cases where someone is injured or killed, jail time is possible.
“Some people aren’t paying attention, they’re not looking ahead while they’re driving, that’s a big thing, they’re not seeing, they’re seeing just the car in front of them and not what’s going on 5–10 cars ahead,” Fitzpatrick added.
It’s a frequent problem for drivers, with some saying certain intersection areas have them on high alert. Olathe resident Christian Hardin said he’s had a close call at Santa Fe and Parker.
“I’ve pulled up to this intersection, I see my light is green. One time, I actually did see somebody go right past when I had the green. I was sitting there like ‘Why, what are you doing, you’ve got places to be? You could wait five seconds for a red light,’” said Hardin.
Police say the initiative goes beyond red lights. The department is also stepping up enforcement in response to aggressive driving and road rage incidents reported throughout the metro.
“We want people to know that hey, it’s not a rush. Your safety is more important than anything to us, so driving erratically, putting you and other people at risk, is the big thing that we don’t wanna see,” Fitzpatrick said.
Meanwhile, some drivers say the increased patrolling gives them peace of mind.
“I’m glad that something’s being done about it. It’s good to see that people are paying attention, people are pointing out things like ‘that’s not right,’” said Hardin.
Officers plan to combine enforcement with education, reminding drivers to be cautious, alert, and prioritize safety as the summer travel season begins.
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