A surge in citations has emerged as Coeur d’Alene Police have stepped up traffic enforcement across the city.

Using traffic enforcement grant funding, 390 more citations were issued in fiscal year 2026 than typically occur during normal, day-to-day operations, according to Sgt. Jared Reneau, a public information officer with the police department.

Reneau said heightened traffic enforcement activities allow the department to focus on infractions caused by aggressive and impaired driving, speeding and distractions behind the wheel.

“Ultimately, that type of behavior can cause crashes,” he said. “The goal is to make the streets safer for everybody that lives here.”

Reneau said that in his 19 years with Coeur d’Alene Police, this is the most common time people use cell phones while driving.

“Technology changed and we’re more intertwined with devices than ever before,” he said.

Police department data shows the number of crashes has — except April — remained steadily above 60 every month throughout 2025. In that year, July saw 88 crashes while May and September saw 84.

Data show there were 872 total crashes in Coeur d’Alene in 2025. 

The top five most common traffic crash spots around the city last year included the intersections of West Appleway Avenue and North U.S. 95 (19 crashes), North Government Way and East Appleway Avenue (18 crashes), North Ramsey Road and West Marie Avenue (16 crashes), West Kathleen Avenue and North Ramsey Road (16 crashes) and East Appleway Avenue and North Fourth Street (14 crashes). 

“This aligns with our higher population in the summer months and tourism,” Cd'A Police Chief Greg Yeager said. “We’ve seen increases in those visiting and the traffic volume leads to compression and rerouting and rerouting on streets subject to repair, improvement or expansion construction.”

Yeager added, “All of that leads to increased potential collision points for motorists." 

Yeager said the police department regularly uses what’s called a Data-Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety to pinpoint high-impact traffic areas. Patrol officers then check these areas between calls for service.

Yeager also said traffic safety grants allow the department to pay officers for specific assignments to educate, mitigate, and enforce where necessary.

“So, we use focused enforcement in hotspots,” Yeager said. “But many areas are so congested that it makes traffic stops dangerous for motorists and officers.”

This year’s crash numbers have already matched 2025 highs. In May 2026, Coeur d'Alene saw 88 crashes. Meanwhile, data shows that most crashes in the city happen between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 3 and 6 p.m.

Reneau said traffic infractions continue to rise with more people coming into Coeur d'Alene and that motorists need to take more precautions.

“Anything that distracts you from paying attention to what’s going on contributes to things that are unsafe or can contribute to crashes,” he said. “The more people we have in Coeur d’Alene, the busier the roads are, the less time you have to react. If you’re splitting that already with being distracted with a cell phone, it’s going to make the streets that much less safe.” 

    A Coeur d'Alene Police vehicle cruises down Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday evening.