Westhampton Police Data: Quiet Season Not Very Different Than 2011

Data provided by the shows that on the whole, not much has changed year over year in 2012 prior to busy season in the resort community.

Through the first five months of the year, the number of total incidents are up three percent, from 1,362 to 1,409. Penal law arrests were up from 60 to 74 through May 31, though vehicle and traffic offenses were down from 47 in 2011 to 28 this year. Administrative tickets - ranging from parking to brake light citations - were up from 449 last year to 558 in 2012.

Police Chief Ray Dean said on Monday that while there were no noticeable differences in the first five months of the year, that doesn't necessarily mean the rest of 2012 is headed in the same direction.

"It's a little too early to tell what the rest of the year will be like," he said. "Numbers tend to go exponentially up, so it's awfully early."

After responding to 1,362 incidents through May 31 of last year, Westhampton Beach Police Department heard a total of 4,149 calls last year.

A look at some of the numbers through five months, year-over-year:

• Felony arrests remain on par (16), though five more misdemeanor arrests were made in 2012 (35) than in 2011 (30). Violations are up in 2012 (23) over last year (14).
• Vehicle and traffic law offenses are down in 2012. Fewer DWIs have been reported (9 in 2012, 15 in 2011), as well as citations for cell phones/electronic devices (15 in 2012, 23 in 2011).
• More fights have been reported this year (9) than last year (2), however noise complaints have been down (6 this year, 16 in 2011).
• Parking citations - including parking in handicapped spaces, parking beyond allotted times, etc. - are up this year, as 45 citations were handed out through May 31, compared to 37 last year.
• Speeding violations are also up: 78 in 2012, compared to 59 last year.

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