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Police task force to target Las Vegas freeways Wednesday

A Las Vegas law enforcement joint operation will crack down on dangerous drivers Wednesday.

The Southern Nevada Traffic Task Force, which includes Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson Police as well as Nevada Highway Patrol, is targeting two major Las Vegas freeway areas in hopes to reduce what they call “accident causing violations.”

The task force will target both directions of U.S. Highway 95 from Interstate 15 to Lake Mead Boulevard, and I-15 from Russell Road to Lake Mead Boulevard.

“In these areas we are going to be taking a zero-tolerance mentality,” said NHP Trooper Loy Hixson.

The crash-causing violations officers will look for include following too closely, speeding and using a cell phone while driving.

Hixson said about 30 patrol units, or three times more than usual, will patrol the areas from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The task force was reinstated last month after a noticable an increase in traffic-related fatalities. During a one-day enforcement in the southwest valley, more than 500 tickets were issued in about 300 traffic stops, said Las Vegas police Sgt. Todd Raybuck.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.

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