Warm Springs Police advise of traffic enforcement on reservation roads, highways

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Warm Springs Tribal Police Department would like to advise the public that over the last few months, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, law enforcement had been re-tasked to handle demands placed on it by the pandemic and stay at home orders.

However, as the stay at home orders are lifting, we are once again patrolling the reservation for traditional violations, including traffic, Police Chief Bill Elliott said in a news release Friday, which continues below.

In general, the public should be congratulated for their observance of traffic laws and rules of the road during this time. But as the level of traffic has been increasing, law enforcement has been receiving an increasing number of citizen complaints concerning people blatantly exceeding the speed limit, and driving in a reckless manner on Highway 26 as it crosses the Warm Springs Indian Reservation .

These types of actions create a public safety concern for the citizens of the WSIR, and so the WSTPD will be increasing its presence on the roadways traversing the reservation, and issuing citations to offenders. Especially for the Memorial Day weekend, during which time the WSTPD will be conducting emphasis patrols on Highway 26 focusing on speeding, reckless driving and drunk driving.

In addition, the public is advised that the closures and other restrictions to access that were put in place as part of the tribal and state emergency declarations are still in effect, and those found in violation will be cited for criminal trespass.