DECATUR COUNTY —Law enforcement across the state continue to find drivers traveling far above the posted speed limit.
On his department's social media page, Decatur County Sheriff David Wachendorfer wrote, " I figured my post a few days ago about the high-speed driver I stopped would be a one-off, because we don't see those high speeds out here that often."
"However, now I'm wondering if there is a "Hold My Beer" button on Facebook, because yesterday, I stopped two more drivers on our local two-lane highways for excessive(!) speed."
"It seems that the speeds on our highways are edging higher and higher on average. So, real talk here for a minute...This Sheriff's Office certainly writes fewer citations than the average Kansas Highway Patrol trooper, and we generally try to use education over enforcement if given a reasonable opportunity. However, sometimes, you just need to write a ticket, or as my good friend over at Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office says, some people just gotta be law enforced. "
"I don't want to change that policy, but I am certainly willing to reevaluate a lenient policy that is not getting results.There's been a lot of publicity on Facebook about Troopers over in Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C and around the state stopping people for speeds in excess of 100 mph."
"That's bad enough but now consider this knowledge: The majority of those stops are on the interstate, which as anyone who has attended a Kansas Driver's Education class knows is a four (or more)-lane controlled access highway designed for higher speeds. The people your Sheriff's Office are stopping are doing these same speeds on TWO-LANE country highways, with gentle rolling hills, curves, draws, and cross traffic at least every mile. Come over a hill or out of a draw at 102 mph to a tractor pulling onto the highway, and there is almost no way that outcome is going to be pretty."
"And to add to my indigestion, one of these citations I ended up handing out was to a local resident who drives these roads all the time. Not who I expected to have to "law enforce" in this manner. So, one more time, spoken loudly for those in the back: PLEASE SLOW DOWN!!! YOU ARE NOT ON THE AUTOBAHN. Driving 90's and 100's+ on our local highways will get you nothing but a ride in an ambulance or blue lights in your rearview mirror. Oh, and our local judge won't be very happy to see you either. He drives on these highways too."