Although based on records of arrests and citations issued throughout the holiday period, Hope Police Department and other lawmen were busy, but did not see an increase in traffic related offenses.
“Calls for police service remained fairly consistent with non-holiday activity,” Hope Police Department Chief J.R. Wilson said.
From the period of Dec. 23 through Dec. 27, HPD answered 111 calls for police service, made 14 arrests and issued 22 citations.
Six calls were made due to traffic accidents, which were minor with no injuries, Wilson said.
One arrest fell under speeding and reckless driving. One citation was issued for careless driving during this period. One driving while intoxicated citation was issued in the city and one citation issued for refusal to submit to blood alcohol, according to Wilson.
Arkansas State Police records for the 12 highway patrol troops for the same period reported 889 speeding tickets issued.
ASP made 96 DWI arrests and five DUI arrests. They issued 260 seatbelt violation tickets and 47 child safety seat violations. Hazardous driving violations included 222 tickets.
There were nine alcohol-related crashes reported by the ASP and 231 crash investigations. Three crashes that resulted in fatalities outside of Hempstead County took place over the holiday period. The number of people killed was also three, according to ASP Public Information Officer Bill Sadler.
HPD also reported activity between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, and answered 55 calls for police service, made nine arrests, and issued eight citations.
One arrest was for careless driving and one DWI was citation was written. Two DWI arrests were made and one arrest for possession of a controlled substance.
“The holiday period did not result in elevated police response or unusual criminal activity,” Wilson said.
