State Police arrest 24 drivers

LYNN – State Police arrested 24 drivers during traffic enforcement stops between 8:49 p.m. Thursday and 2:30 a.m. Friday, according to Lynn police and District Court information.The drivers were listed as “courtesy bookings” on the District Court arrest list and the Lynn police log and specific charges filed against them were not detailed on the list or the log. The log and the list also did not detail where the stops occurred.The drivers included Lynn residents as well as three New Hampshire drivers, one from Peabody, one from Chelsea, one from Boston and one from South Hamilton.State Police traffic enforcement action last year on Western Avenue prompted a complaint to the city Human Rights Commission with the complaint claiming mostly Latino drivers were stopped during the enforcement action.Police Chief Kevin Coppinger at a January commission hearing explained the State Police conduct traffic stops at his request. He told the commission in January that statistics underscore Western Avenue?s status as a high crime street with intersections that have seen a high number of accidents.Commissioners in January asked commission attorney Vincent Phelan to research arrests made by state troopers during the 2013 traffic stops.A Safe Driving bill under state legislative review would allow driver?s license applicants who do not have Social Security numbers to no longer have to provide immigration documents. The law?s supporters say the requirement effectively bars most immigrants from getting licensed even though they want to drive legally.Coppinger in January said police chiefs across the state are “in a fact-finding stage” concerning Safe Driving proposals, but said the legislation raises questions about access to driving records from other countries and accurate identification information.Safe Driving Coalition supporters, in a statement provided by bill supporter and Lynn businessman Juan Gonzalez, claim the bill “would ensure that more drivers are licensed and thus are able to purchase mandatory liability insurance?”