AHOSKIE – Local roadways have the potential to become safer places to operate a motor vehicle as long as drivers follow the rules.

Unfortunately, the latter is not always the case.

During the weekend of July4th, several local law enforcement agencies joined forces to conduct “Operation Safe Holiday.” The event, which included saturated patrols and a license checkpoint, was conducted by the Ahoskie Police Department (APD), Murfreesboro Police Department, Winton Police Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

APD Sgt. Jeffrey Woodard served as the lead lawman during the operation, which took place on Friday and Saturday, July 4-5. Woodard is the Hertford County coordinator with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

“I felt like this was an excellent showing for our county; the way these different agencies came together and conducted a seamless operation,” Woodard stated.

Numerous traffic citations were issued, to include driving while license revoked, seat belt violations, child restraint violations, improper equipment, vehicle registration violations, open container (alcohol), and no operator license.

The two-day operation also yielded five arrests – one each for DWI, outstanding child support warrant, drug possession, RDO (resist, delay and/or obstruct a lawman in the line of duty), and domestic criminal trespass.

“On behalf of the Ahoskie Police, I would like to thank the Murfreesboro and Winton officers as well as the Highway Patrol troopers that took part in this operation,” said APD Chief Troy Fitzhugh. “By combining our resources, we were able to fan out and saturate several areas. This is something we plan to do again very soon.”