Officer Cameron Macdonald’s black sunglasses glinted in the morning sun as he handed a traffic ticket to a man in a pickup, the flashing police lights bouncing off the man’s truck.
It was part of a multi-agency effort Friday to increase enforcement of aggressive driving in the Kansas City metro as traffic fatalities have soared.
As part of the initiative, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Kansas City Police Department, all with one goal in mind: to crack down on aggressive driving. In Clay County, these efforts include approximately 10 marked and unmarked police cars from both departments. , as well as an undercover cop as a beggar at a busy intersection. The officer stood at the intersection and shouted violations over a radio.
Officers, including Deputy Macdonald, looked for aggressive driving, such as speeding, reckless lane changes, driving too close to other vehicles and license plate violations, Macdonald said.
There were 102 traffic fatalities in Kansas City last year, close to the city record of 103 in 2020. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated just two traffic fatalities in 2023, according to an annual police report.
But so far this year, there have been 47 traffic fatalities in Kansas City alone, compared to 34 in June 2023.
In a period of about three hours on Friday, Macdonald issued approximately three traffic tickets and made one arrest. Others he stopped were given warnings. The area for the Clay County operation, a bustling business area near NE Barry Road and Route 291, was chosen because of the number of accidents there, Macdonald said.
The operation comes shortly after Kansas City leaders announced they have spent $4 million on the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to make roads safer.
“Aggressive driving and excessive speed are dangerous to everyone and will not be tolerated on Clay County roadways,” according to a Facebook post from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
In Missouri, convictions for reckless driving can result in jail sentences of up to six months or a maximum fine of up to $1,000. In Kansas, careless drivers can face up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $500.
Robert A. Cronkleton of The Star contributed reporting.
