VERGENNES — The continuing efforts by Vergennes police to crack down on traffic violations also netted a more serious offense last week.
During one of the special directed patrols the city department has been running to combat speeding and other traffic offenses, police on Saturday, Dec. 15, cited Amanda Nichols, 26, of Vergennes for driving with a criminally suspended license. Police stopped Nichols’ vehicle because they alleged she failed to yield at a stop sign, and they also cited her for that offense.
During that particular special patrol on South Maple and School streets city police also issued three tickets for speeding.
Earlier that Saturday police operated two patrols on North Main Street and ticketed eight drivers and warned four.
Earlier in the week Vergennes police operated directed patrols on West Main Street (four), North Main Street (two), Main Street proper, and Panton Road (twice) and Canal Street (once) in conjunction with West Main patrols. During those patrols police issued another 11 tickets for speeding and three to drivers for using cellphones, and they warned another eight drivers.
During the week they also ticketed three vehicles left overnight on city streets in violation of the Vergennes winter parking ban. Police on Dec. 13 also passed out flyers throughout the downtown district highlighting the area’s two-hour limit on the use of downtown parking spaces.
In other action between Dec. 10 and 16, Vergennes police:
On Dec. 10:
•  Consulted a city bank on security measures.
•  Advised a man in a pickup truck not to stop and chat with youngsters outside the Evergreen Preschool even if his intentions were, as they appeared, innocent.
•  Cited three Northlands Job Corps students for disorderly conduct after a scuffle broke out among them.
On Dec. 11:
•  Responded to a one-car accident on Monkton Road.
•  Helped to persuade a reluctant Vergennes Union Elementary School student to attend school.
On Dec. 12:
•  Dealt with a one-car accident at Northlands Job Corps.
•  Responded along with the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad to an untimely death at a Main Street apartment.
On Dec. 13:
•  Responded to a minor two-car accident in a Panton Road parking lot.
•  Helped campus personnel deal with an out-of-control Northlands student.
•  Helped a motorist enter a locked vehicle at Shaw’s Supermarket.
•  Cited a motorist for driving with a civilly suspended license on West Main Street.
On Dec. 14:
•  Helped a motorist enter a locked vehicle on Main Street.
•  Began looking into an animal cruelty allegation.
•  Took a report that someone drove away from Small City Market without paying for gasoline, but could not find the vehicle.
•  Checked on a person reported to be possibly suicidal and determined he was OK.
•  Helped a motorist enter a locked vehicle at the Small City Market.
On Dec. 6:
•  Helped a motorist enter a locked vehicle on South Water Street.
•  Determined a man reported to be drunk at a local restaurant was OK.