Police - Patrol

Routine patrol includes regular coverage of the entire city for traffic enforcement and as a deterrent against all criminal behavior. Areas of Responsibility have been assigned to specific patrol officers to patrol during their tour of duty. They will also watch your property for particular problems if you contact the administration between the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and request an extra patrol. This would be appropriate if you are going to be out of town more than 24 hours, or if you are having a particular problem, such as concerns that someone may attempt to damage or harm your property.

Extra patrol requests require a few minutes on the phone with a staff member, as there are several pieces of information that are needed.

City Council approved an ordinance stating that it is unlawful to drive or operate a motor vehicle in a school zone on official school days during hours when the school zones are in effect while using a hand-held mobile telephone to engage in a call or to create, send or read messages or data. Please be aware and take notice of the signage regarding the ordinance. This is a ticketable offense. Click here to read the ordinance and become familiar with its restrictions.

The Sachse Police Department added a Traffic Display Monitoring device that will enhance speed-limit awareness and promote traffic safety.

Police Chief Dennis Veach states that the radar trailer contains an actual radar unit that measures the speed of oncoming vehicles and displays their speed on large LED panels. The driver may become aware of errors in their speedometer and/or can make adjustments in their driving behavior. Chief Veach said the unit will be a great benefit because it can be used in school zones and on residential streets for long periods of time and it does slow the traffic down. Not only does the trailer display the speed of the approaching vehicles, it also records the various range of speeds on a data collector. That data can be downloaded and analyzed later for use in traffic studies. As shown in reports from other cities, the trailer will also allow the department to give additional attention to reported problem areas without committing additional manpower.

If you have an area of concern and would like to request a location for the trailer, please contact Lt. Marty Cassidy at mcassidy@cityofsachse.com or (972) 495-2271 x204. Requests will be handled on a “first come, first serve” basis as the trailer is available.

TRAFFIC CODE UPDATE PROTECTS POLICE OFFICERS

The Texas Transportation Code Section enacted in 2003 which protects police officers during traffic stops states the following:

§ 545.157.  PASSING AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE.

          (A)  On approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using
             visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections 547.305 and

             547.702, an operator, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, 
             shall:

             (1)  vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle when

                   driving on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the

                   direction of the emergency vehicle; or

             (2)  slow to a speed not to exceed:

                   (a)  20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when

                         the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or more; or

                   (b)  five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is less

                         than 25 miles per hour.

          (B)  A violation of this section is:

             (1)  a misdemeanor punishable under Section 542.401;

             (2)  a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500 if the violation

                   results in property damage;  or

             (3)  a Class B misdemeanor if the violation results in bodily injury.

       (C)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes

             an offense under another section of this code or the Penal Code, the

             actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both sections.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., Ch. 327, § 2, effective Sept. 1, 2003.

THIS IS A ZERO TOLERANCE TRAFFIC LAW IN THE CITY OF SACHSE. THE SAFETY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN, EMTs AND PARAMEDICS IS PARAMOUNT.

A DIRECT LINK TO THIS LAW IS FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm

The Sachse Police Department would like to inform residents that it is against the law to proceed around a barricade placed in the roadway to prevent vehicles from driving into high water. Below is the excerpt from the Traffic Code which addresses this issue:

(A) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) Disobeys the instructions, signals, warnings, or markings of a warning sign; or

(D) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $1.00 or more than $200.00, except that:

(2) if a person commits an offense under Subsection (a) where a warning sign or barricade has been placed because water is over any portion of a road, street, or highway, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in county jail and a $2,000.00 fine.

(a) placed on or across a road, street, or highway of this state by the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor constructing or repairing the road, street, or highway under authorization of the department or a political subdivision of this state; and

(b) placed to prevent the passage of motor vehicles over the road, street, or highway during construction, repair, or dangerous conditions.

(3) "Warning sign" means a signal, marking, or device placed on a barricade or on a road, street, or highway during construction, repair, or dangerous conditions by the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor to warn or regulate motor vehicular traffic. The term includes a flagger deployed on a road, street, or highway by the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor to direct traffic around or on the road, street, or highway during construction, repair, or dangerous conditions.

(F) Articles 45.051 and 45.0511, Code of Criminal Procedure, do not apply to an offense under this section committed in a construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present.

A high number of traffic accidents and complaints at intersections on Highway 78 prompted a review of the Texas Traffic Code. The Texas Traffic Code covers entering and stopping in intersections as well as right-of-way laws. Here is a synopsis of the law:

When a driver leaves a stop sign, yield sign or red light, they must only do so when they can enter the intersection without causing a collision. If a driver is stopped at a stop sign, the driver must yield right-of-way to all cross traffic and/or traffic turning left that does not have a stop sign.

Any driver who leaves a stop sign or yield sign must only enter an intersection when they can proceed completely through the intersection without stopping, except to avoid a collision. With that stated, if a vehicle enters the intersection and stops to avoid a collision, that should tell all other drivers behind that vehicle that the intersection is not safe to enter.

Please be cautious along Highway 78 when attempting to cross oncoming lanes of traffic.

You need to be aware that the City of Sachse has a juvenile curfew for minors under the age of 17. Curfew hours are 11 pm to 6 am Sunday thru Thursday; 12:01 am to 6 am Saturday and Sunday. Minors found to be in violation of the curfew may be issued a citation. According to Section 12-1 of the Sachse Code, anyone under 17 years old commits an offense if they are "about or upon any public place or in the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours." Also, the park curfew as stated in Section 7-2 of the Sachse Code "persons shall not be allowed in, on, about or around a public park and/or facility between 11:30 pm to 6 am on weeknights and 12 midnight to 6 am on weekends. No exceptions shall be allowed without written permission from the Parks and Recreation Commission." The curfews are included in the City of Sachse Code Book, which may be viewed at City Hall or at the library.