The participating law enforcement departments pulled over a multitude of vehicles teaching, warning, and exercising Iowa’s traffic laws. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

If you were out driving on March 17, chances are you saw a few more cop cars than usual. This was an event put together by the Tama Police Department to focus on traffic laws and safety.

Officer Tyler Chekal explained the initiative.

“This project was funded by the state as a part of a grant program that we utilize for traffic safety. The grant allows us (Tama Police Department) to have extra officers out on patrol throughout the year focused on traffic. While officers are working as part of the grant, the regular on-duty officer remains available for calls and maintains regular patrol duties in town. This project on 3/17/2025, which was set up by the Tama Police Department and assisted by the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa State Patrol Aviation Unit, was focused on speed and the importance of moving over and slowing down when approaching vehicles with flashing lights that are on the shoulder,” he said. “This includes vehicles with their hazard lights flashing. Tow truck drivers, construction workers, law enforcement officers, medical and fire professionals, and even motorists that have pulled over to the shoulder for any number of reasons are killed every year because drivers do not pay attention to roadside hazards because they are speeding, distracted, impaired, or just not paying attention. Just during this project, there were at least two motorists who not only failed to slow down and move over for the tow truck, but also passed by a deputy or officer that was on a traffic stop without slowing down or moving over.”

Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt such projects aren’t just a once a year occurrence.

“We typically do these enforcement projects multiple times a year. The focus can change depending on what traffic issues are most important at the time,” he said. “These events are about making sure laws are enforced to keep everyone safer on the road. It’s all about helping drivers understand why following the rules is so important for everyone’s safety.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Officer Chekal explained why they chose the road they did for the project.

“The speed enforcement part of the project was aimed at a several-mile stretch of highway near Highway E66, where a large number of reckless driver complaints are generated. These complaints range from speed, unsafe passing, wrong way drivers, and possibly impaired or overly tired drivers failing to maintain their lane. With the greatly appreciated assistance of the Iowa State Patrol, we were able to utilize their aviation unit to assist with stopping speeding and unsafe motorists,” he said.

Schmidt said the goal wasn’t to just write tickets — it was to make sure people understand the importance of these laws for everyone’s safety. “And if there was any doubt about why this matters, shortly after the event ended, a semi caught fire on Highway 30. That really drove home just how crucial it is to give emergency responders the space they need to do their jobs safely, ” he said.

Officer Chekal shared more about the incident with the semi catching fire. A semi-truck hauling an empty cattle trailer traveling West on Highway 30 had pulled over near P Ave due to mechanical issues. This semi-truck ended up catching on fire, becoming fully engulfed in flames. The driver was able to safely exit the vehicle in time. Law enforcement vehicles were still in the area and were able to quickly get Tama and Toledo fire and EMS services dispatched, ultimately shutting the West-bound lanes of Highway 30 near O Avenue down for approximately 30 minutes so fire crews could safely extinguish the fire.

During the enforcement event, 13 speed citations were given out along with 29 speed warnings and 24 other citations which include everything from registration, insurance, failing to move over, suspended/revoked/barred driving status, tint, etc, and 41 warnings. There were also two seatbelt citations given out during the event.

Traffic safety is an ever constant issue, not just when there is an Iowa State Patrol Aviation Unit circling above. Another similar project is being scheduled in the upcoming months.

So as you start your engines, remember the words of Tama Officer Tyler Chekal, “Buckle up, buckle the children up, slow down, and drive sober!”