FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The Provost Marshal Office of the Fort Carson Directorate of Emergency Services has again received national recognition for its work in traffic enforcement.
The Traffic Accident Investigation section of the 148th Military Police Detachment, 759th MP Battalion, received second place in the military police division of the National Law Enforcement Challenge. The annual competition, conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, is a national traffic safety awards program. Participants are required to submit statistical information in three different categories -- occupant protection, impaired driving and speeding -- as well as a fourth category of their choice. The Fort Carson group chose cell phone use while driving, as that was a special enforcement focus area in 2013.
Staff Sgt. Edward Hinsberger, traffic accident investigations noncommissioned officer in charge, 148th MPs, prepared the information for the contest submission.
"This (award) is due to the hard work of our TAI section sergeant, Staff Sgt. Hinsberger, and his Soldiers," said Capt. James C. Powers, commander, 148th MP and 69th MP detachments. "Apart from the award reflecting the section's dedication to the Fort Carson military community, the submission for the award takes weeks to compile and is a testament to Staff Sgt. Hinsberger's commitment to bring great credit to this organization."
Fort Carson has competed in the National Law Enforcement Challenge for several years and has ranked first or second repeatedly.
"They've always done well in the past," said Hinsberger. "It goes to show that we have higher standards, and they've been passed down from person to person as we continue on with people changing out."
"It's a testament to these guys for getting out there and doing their jobs professionally," said Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams, 148th MP detachment sergeant. "They're charged with enforcing the law, and that's what they've been doing. For the standard citizen that comes onto Fort Carson, it's knowing that the guys are out there actually watching. They are doing their jobs. They are actively patrolling the installation to try to deter some of the unsafe driving behavior that's going on."
According to the information submitted for the award, cell phone use was a significant contributing factor to inattentive driving accidents on post. Texting while driving is illegal in the state of Colorado and on post, and using a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving is also prohibited on Fort Carson. To combat the problem, MPs conducted numerous traffic safety briefings for various units on post and stepped up active enforcement of the regulation. In just under two hours during an enforcement effort last August, five of 14 citations issued were for cell phone usage. A total of 125 cell phone citations were issued that month. By the end of 2013, 291 citations were issued for cell phone use without a hands-free device.
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