ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A joint enforcement Wednesday between Pennsylvania State Police and the Allentown Police Department resulted in 26 traffic citations during the two hours the detail was held on American Parkway, state police said.
Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer for PSP’s Troop M barracks, said the majority of citations issued were for speeding.
The highest speed recorded on radar during the detail was 69 mph in a 40 mph zone, Branosky said.
Additional results of the enforcement included:
• 4 traffic warnings issued
• 1 citation for a suspended driver’s license
• 1 arrest for an outstanding warrant
• 1 criminal arrest
• 1 foot pursuit from a driver that was apprehended
“We were requested by the Allentown Police Department to assist with speed enforcement in areas that have been identified as areas that motorists travel above the speed limit.
"The Troop M Commanding Officer approves these requests when local municipal departments ask for assistance,” Branosky said.
It was the second time state police utilized radar on an enforcement detail with Allentown police this spring.
The first detail took place April 17 in the same area of American Parkway and IronPigs Way with the goal of conducting aggressive, visible enforcement resulting in increased traffic safety and reducing crashes.
That detail resulted in 28 traffic citations and 3 traffic warnings issued, Branosky said.
Details to continue through the summer
“Troopers within Troop M will continue various details throughout the summer with both the Allentown Police Department and other municipal departments,” Branosky said.
The enforcement in Allentown comes with the city attempting to tackle an ambitious goal: ending all pedestrian deaths.
Last month, officials announced the launch of the Safe Streets for All project as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
More than 4,000 crashes were reported in 2023 on Allentown roads, according to statistics provided by the city.
Five pedestrians were killed last year, and a dozen others were seriously injured, those stats showed.
This week, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Susan Wild announced an almost millon-dollar grant for Allentown police to buy new cruisers and upgrade technology to process crime scenes and drugs.
Part of the funding will pay for the department to improve its abilities to investigate and reconstruct vehicle crashes.
New police cars, in particular, will help Allentown police better enforce traffic laws, Mayor Matt Tuerk said at a press conference Tuesday, noting enforcement will play a major role in the push to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
