Nashua PD Says October Driving Crackdown Resulted In Reduced Speeds

NASHUA, NH — The Nashua Police Department has labeled Operation Commuter Shield a success after the month-long campaign targeting speeding and aggressive driving reduced the number of cars stopped for those infractions, according to the department.

During the month of October, the Nashua PD partnered with the New Hampshire State Police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to conduct the operation.

Police said the enforcement effort primarily focused on the F.E. Everett Turnpike, but also targeted other major streets like: Amherst Street, East Hollis Street, West Hollis Street, Main Dunstable Road, Concord Street, and the Henri A Burque Highway.

Over the course of the operation, 1,323 vehicles were stopped, police said. Over half of the vehicles stopped were traveling more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit, according to the Nashua PD.

The department said 173 summons were issued during Operation Commuter Shield, and 23 arrests were made for various offenses and outstanding warrants

Nashua PD Sgt. Caleb Gilbert said the operation did have the desired effect.

"Based on the number of vehicles stopped at the beginning of the operation, to the number of vehicles stopped at the end of the operation, there was a 33-percent decrease in the number of vehicles stopped. The average speed of traffic on the roadways in Nashua has also noticeably decreased," Gilbert said.

During the course of the operation, the Nashua PD announced that it stopped 147 vehicles in five hours on Oct. 5 on the F.E. Everett Turnpike, 139 vehicles in five hours on Oct. 11 on the F.E. Everett Turnpike, and 99 vehicles in five hours on Oct. 18 on the same stretch of roadway.

"The Nashua Police Department would like to thank the New Hampshire State Police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for their role in the success of this operation and their continued commitment to the safety of the motoring public," the Nashua PD said in a statement.

The Nashua PD continued: "While this operation has concluded, the traffic enforcement on the roadways in Nashua will continue to remain a priority."