Deschutes SO deputies crack down on speeders

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and the Community Action Target Team are cracking down on drivers who commute on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway.

On Monday, deputies were out all day looking for drivers as they try to deter motorists from speeding on that busy road.

Sheriff’s Sgt. William Bailey said that last week, one deputy made eight traffic stops for offenses ranging from lighting violations to speed.

In one example, a deputy pulled over a motorist who was driving 77 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Bailey said the public reached out to the sheriff’s office to step up patrols in that area.

He said their goal with traffic enforcement is get drivers to follow the traffic laws and speed limits in that area.

Les Scully lives on the corner of Tumalo Road and Old Bend-Redmond Highway. He told NewsChannel 21 Monday that the intersection is dangerous and he has seen several crashes while he’s been living on that property.

“We’ve have had at least 10,” he said. “The neighbor has had them go through his fence right at the corner. We’ve have them go through our fence at least four times. And not only that, they’ve gone up the telephone pole. A white car sitting up the telephone pole — a lot of people saw that one. It’s a pretty constant activity at this corner.”

Scully said he sees motorists speed and pass illegally during the morning commute.

“They fly down this road in both directions,” he said. “Morning commute, they’re coming from Redmond going to Bend, they hit this straightaway, where the dotted line is, and barrel around people.”

Last month, a car crash took out part of his fence. This will be Scully’s third time replacing it.

Bailey said deputies also will focus on other roads around the county.

“Currently, our focus is Old Bend-Redmond Highway. We’ll continue to expand that,” he said. “Citizens have asked for an increased presence on Deschutes Market Road, increased presence on Cline Falls Highway, and we’ll continue to do that. We have a finite number of deputies, so we’ll be utilizing our resources as best we can.”

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