The Lowell Police Department has been stepping up traffic enforcement in the city, and Police Chief Chris Hurst says that will continue to be a trend for the foreseeable future. With a new law prohibiting drivers from holding or supporting a phone with their hand, arm or shoulder, officers will be watching for people who are trying to use their devices while driving.
The new distracted driving law stipulates that mobile devices cannot be manually used in any capacity while driving. Having a phone mounted for GPS or hands-free calls is acceptable, but only if they are operated by voice or with a single touch. For instance, answering a hands-free call with a single touch is acceptable, but you cannot punch in numbers to dial or enter an address into GPS while driving.
To use your phone legally, you have to be parked – meaning you are off the road and the vehicle is in park or turned off. Sitting at a stop light or stop sign does not count as being parked. The one exception is if you need to make an emergency call to 911.
For June, the Lowell Police Department filed 223 case reports, including the following:
- 48 assists to other agencies
- 26 pistol permits and sales
- 24 suspicious situations
- 22 general and motorist assists
- 16 ordinance violations
- 8 traffic accidents
- 3 malicious destruction of property
- 3 larcenies
- 1 operating while intoxicated
- 1 non-aggravated assault
Lowell officers also made 106 traffic stops that resulted in 31 citations.
Parked Vehicles Hit During Riverwalk Festival
Although not a June event, the Riverwalk Festival was the largest recent activity downtown, and Hurst says it went off without any major incident. However, he was called to investigate a case of a woman squeezing into an on-street parking spot.
Observers repeatedly warned the woman that she could not fit into the space, but she insisted on driving forward and back – hitting adjacent cars in the process – until she made it into the spot. Once parked, her vehicle was practically touching the other cars. She quickly grabbed a chair from her vehicle and headed to the Riverwalk for that night’s concert.
Drunk Driving Arrest
There was one drunk driving arrest during June. The incident happened in the middle of the night, and the officer involved was tipped off that something was wrong when the car in question stopped at a yellow light.
Vandalism in the Riverwalk Bathrooms
The Riverwalk bathrooms were shut down after a small fire was set inside. A juvenile has been identified as the suspect. It is believed the young man felt guilty, spoke to his father, and his father brought him to the police station to speak to officers. The bathrooms have since been reopened.
Disorderly Conduct Complaints
Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint about a person from outside the community who was upset about the Bible Believers Church protest at the Lowell Pride festival. The person was yelling at church members as they stood on a street corner.
In a separate report, people were said to be drinking on the Riverwalk. While the Riverwalk is part of the social district, only drinks purchased at participating restaurants can be consumed in the area. These individuals had other packaged alcohol and were told by police that drinking it on city property was not allowed.
Property Damage
About $400 in damage was done to the Burch Field parking lot by a vehicle that tore up the ground there.
Elsewhere in the city, one person did not appreciate that their neighbor’s tree was overhanging their property so they removed it. Hurst notes that this type of situation tends to be a civil matter, and the person will likely need to compensate his neighbor for the tree.
Hurst notes that if branches are overhanging your yard, you can cut up to remove the overhanging sections. However, you cannot remove anything located on your neighbor’s property.
Motorcycle Accident and Theft
Ionia public safety officers were pursuing a motorcyclist into the city. The individual lost control and was injured as a result. It was believed the person could lose their foot because of the injuries.
In a different case, a motorcycle was stolen in the city. Apparently, someone managed to walk away with the bike.
Other Department News
Hurst notes the department has seen an uptick in car accidents in recent weeks. He reminds drivers that when they turn left at the Main Street light, they should not be entering the center lane until they are no farther than a block away from the light. Drivers who enter the lane earlier – such as back by the railroad tracks on Main Street – can cause accidents if others try to enter the lane ahead of them.
On July 28, officers will take part in an active shooter class. The city is also preparing to install its Flock Safety cameras. Finally, the department is interviewing a candidate to fill a part-time officer position.
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