Traffic Division
While each sworn Deputy of the Sheriff's Office enforces traffic law in
conjunction with their daily patrol duties, the Macomb Sheriff's Office also
maintains a separate Traffic Division. Also known as the Secondary Road Patrol,
the Traffic Division consists of a Lieutenant, a Sergeant, and seven deputies
whose responsibility it is to investigate traffic crashes and enforce traffic
laws on secondary roads in Macomb County.
Working a variety of hours, the Traffic Division focuses on crash prevention and
enforcement on secondary roadways. They frequently responds to citizen requests
for service and alternately patrol streets and intersections where a
higher-than-normal number of crashes occur, or where citizen complaints indicate
a need for strict enforcement.
The patrol cars driven by members of the Sheriff's Traffic Division are equipped
with the latest technology, including front and rear facing radar, video camera
systems, and laptop computers.
Several of the deputies (assigned to the Traffic Division) work in an Alcohol
Enforcement capacity, and work primarily the early morning hours in order to
enforce the drinking and driving laws. Alcohol enforcement vehicles are equipped
with preliminary breath test devices that are used in the event the deputies
suspect impaired driving.
In addition to the traffic law enforcement, deputies assigned to the Traffic
Division all have advanced training in Accident Investigation. Frequently called
to investigate crashes, each deputy assigned to the Traffic Division has
extensive training in the collection of evidence, and the documentation of
serious injury, and fatality crashes. Patrol cars are equipped with all of the
tools necessary to adequately investigate and document crashes of this nature.
Also under the authority of the Traffic Division is the Motor Carrier Bureau.
The Department has two deputies who are assigned in a Motor Carrier capacity.
Both have extensive training and are qualified to enforce weight limits as well
as the multitude of laws unique to the trucks that travel the highways of Macomb
County. These Motor Carrier Officers drive sport utility vehicles and have a
vast array of equipment to inspect trucks.
Due to the nature of traffic policing, those deputies assigned to the Traffic
Division frequently participate is special details or assignments such as
saturation patrols around specific holidays. All traffic-related details such as
parades, road closures, and dignitary escorts are the responsibility of the
Traffic Division, and the Macomb Sheriff Traffic Division frequently receives
calls to assist other agencies with special details or ordinary traffic law
enforcement. The Traffic Division is also responsible for the processing of
abandoned autos left in the eight northern townships.
