Fort Wayne’s traffic unit is cracking down on speeders
From busy intersections to quiet neighborhood streets, driving in Fort Wayne has been a growing concern for years. Complaints about speeding, reckless driving, and drivers running stop signs have been constant across the city. In September 2024, the Fort Wayne Police Department took action by reviving its traffic unit after a hiatus of more than 30 years.
It didn’t take long for the results to show. With only four officers dedicated to the unit, ticket numbers quickly rose, matching the numbers they achieved during their first four months back on the job last year. The return of the traffic unit is about more than citations; it’s about preventing car accidents and making the city’s roads safer for everyone.
How many tickets have been issued?
So far in 2025, the FWPD traffic unit has issued 4,046 tickets. In the final four months of 2024, they wrote 4,254 tickets. Those numbers are nearly identical, and Sgt. John Shank, who supervises the unit, believes they could have surpassed last year’s total if one officer hadn’t been out for two months.
Each ticket represents more than a fine. It’s an opportunity to correct dangerous driving habits before they cause serious crashes. Common violations include:
- Speeding well over posted limits
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Reckless lane changes and tailgating
- Distracted driving, such as using a phone behind the wheel
Why was the traffic unit brought back?
Fort Wayne Chief says the decision came after years of hearing the same complaints from residents. “That’s been a consistent complaint everywhere in the city for the last three or four years,” he said.
Whether in busy downtown areas or quiet residential neighborhoods, drivers who ignore traffic laws are putting lives at risk. Re-establishing the traffic unit enabled the department to focus on targeted enforcement in high-crash intersections and neighborhoods where speeding is a daily issue.
The current team includes four experienced officers led by a sergeant. While that might seem small for a city the size of Fort Wayne, their presence is felt. These officers work full-time on traffic enforcement, using patrol cars, speed detection equipment, and their own training to identify and stop dangerous drivers.
A day in the life of the unit can include a range of tasks, from writing tickets to responding to serious crashes, assisting with DUI stops, and supporting other divisions during large public events.
The early success of the traffic unit is a step in the right direction, but city leaders and law enforcement officials agree there’s more to do. Continued efforts will likely include:
- Maintaining a visible traffic enforcement presence in high-risk areas
- Expanding use of speed detection and red-light cameras
- Partnering with schools and community groups to promote safe driving habits
- Analyzing crash and citation data to target the most dangerous locations
The return of the traffic unit shows that even a small, focused team can have a big impact. As the traffic unit continues its work, the goal remains clear: reduce dangerous driving, prevent crashes, and make Fort Wayne’s streets safer for everyone.
How dangerous is speeding?
In 2023 alone, speeding caused 11,775 deaths and accounted for nearly 29% of all traffic fatalities that year. That’s nearly one in every three traffic-related deaths tied to moving too fast. Across recent decades, speeding has consistently played a role in about one-third of fatal crashes.
Even exceeding the speed limit by a little can lead to danger, especially in poor conditions such as rain, nighttime, or around construction zones.
It’s not just about getting a ticket. Speeding has real, far-reaching consequences, including:
- It's much easier to lose control of a vehicle at high speeds.
- Seatbelts and airbags are less effective in high-speed collisions.
- Longer stopping distances.
- More severe injuries when crashes do happen.
- Higher economic costs, including medical care, vehicle damage, and traffic delays.
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