News Photo by Julie Riddle An officer directs traffic at a recent crash in Alpena. Traffic crashes and stops are up after being unusually low for several months, police say.

ALPENA — After several months of dramatically reduced traffic, Alpena County roadways are hopping once again, and police are again responding to crashes and handing out tickets at a normal rate as summer guests arrive.

During April and May, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ordered Michiganders to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, traffic stops by Alpena County Sheriff’s Office deputies were down 60% to 70% from their usual level, according to Undersheriff Erik Smith.

Local law enforcement agencies agree that, especially when the order initially took effect in late March, city and county streets were bare and call volume dropped drastically for all complaints as people heeded instruction and stayed indoors.

Citations issued during the shutdown often involved drivers travelling at a higher rate of speed than usual, probably because of fewer overall drivers on the road, Smith said.

Michigan State Police troopers out of the Alpena Post gave only a third as many citations and verbal warnings during the shutdown as in April and May of last year.

Alpena Police Department officers handed out 17 civil infraction tickets during this year’s stay-at-home order. Last year, the same time period netted 72 tickets.

Arrests by MSP troopers dropped dramatically during the shutdown, as well, with 102 arrests of any kind during those months, compared to 288 during the two-month period last year. The drop in arrests corresponded to the Alpena County Jail’s decision to accept fewer inmates as a safety precaution, an MSP spokesperson said.

Traffic crashes in the city were cut in half this spring, from 58 between March and June of last year to only 22 during that time period this year, according to Alpena Police Department records.

In recent weeks, since the governor’s order lifted in northern Michigan, roads have again filled and traffic volume has increased to a normal level, police say, including an increase in crashes.

Police don’t anticipate the need to change their policing habits this summer as visitors fill the area, they said. A reduction in staff over previous years does mean road patrol can’t always be the first priority for deputies at the Sheriff’s Office, who also handle jail, court, and other duties, Smith said.

The upcoming Fourth of July weekend presents an unknown for police, said Lt. Eric Hamp, of the Alpena Police Department.

Typically, thousands of people line State Avenue to enjoy the fireworks, Hamp said. This year, with other holiday festivities canceled, it’s possible more people may be in the city to take advantage of Alpena’s show, especially with the anticipated good weather.

Whitmer currently allows crowds of only 250 people, with mandates that people wear face masks and stay at least six feet away from people with whom they don’t live.

Extra staff will be called in to work over the weekend, especially during the evening hours, Hamp said. But it’s uncertain what level of policing may be needed after the Saturday evening fireworks as officers make sure revelers travel safely back to their vehicles in the dark.

In 2018, seven people died in car crashes on Michigan roads over the Fourth of July weekend, according to Michigan State Police data.

One of those, an 85-year-old, was killed in Presque Isle County while driving and wearing a seatbelt.