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Excelsior Springs approves participation in MoDOT highway safety program
Summary
The Excelsior Springs City Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 1553 to participate in the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Program, allowing grant-funded overtime enforcement targeting hazardous moving violations and impaired driving.
The Excelsior Springs City Council on Feb. 21 approved Resolution No. 1553 to participate in the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Highway Safety Program and authorized signatures for execution.
The measure, presented by Police Chief Greg Dole, was approved unanimously by the council. Chief Dole said the MoDOT-funded grants pay officers for overtime assignments so they can concentrate on hazardous moving violations and targeted impaired-driving enforcement during peak crash periods.
"It pays the salaries of officers to be able to just focus strictly on either hazardous moving violations or targeted driving law enforcement," Police Chief Greg Dole said. He described the funding as overtime assignments that let officers concentrate enforcement during high-risk months and times.
Chief Dole told the council the program identifies peak crash months — February, May, August and October — and peak hours roughly between noon and 6 p.m., which the department targets with the grant-funded enforcement. He said any funds received under the program would be used for those enforcement activities.
Council members asked about drug-impaired-driving detection. Regarding cannabis, Chief Dole said there is currently "no presumptive test like alcohol" and that the field lacks a simple, equivalent screening test. He noted the scientific and legal challenges in establishing a cannabis impairment threshold similar to blood-alcohol limits.
The council vote was recorded by roll call. Councilman Saint John, Councilman Raney and Councilwoman McGovern answered "yes" when called; Mayor Spahn also indicated approval. City Clerk Shannon announced the result: "Resolution number 1553 is approved." The meeting record does not identify who moved or seconded the motion to adopt the resolution.
The resolution authorizes the city to participate in the MoDOT Highway Safety Program and to execute any required documents; council discussion and Chief Dole's presentation made clear the city intends to use any awarded funds to subsidize officer overtime for the targeted enforcement described above.
Following the vote the council signed the approved documents and adjourned the special meeting.
