By Ian Nikkel, FOX23.com News Staff
OWASSO, Okla. — The Owasso Police Department has released its latest citation report, showing a mixed trend across the city.
While traffic stops and DUI arrests are down, traffic accidents and overall citations have increased. According to Owasso Police Lt. Nick Boatman, several factors are contributing to the shift.
“A lot of these statistics have actually gone down, like the number of traffic stops, the number of arrests, even some of the DUI stuff,” said Boatman. “And a lot of it is because ever since COVID, things in the police world have changed quite a bit. Call volumes are down and traffic counts are way up.”
In 2025, Owasso recorded 1,528 traffic accidents, more than 200 higher than in 2024. Citations also increased from 3,735 to 4,016. Injury accidents rose slightly from 328 to 333,
Boatman said the city’s rapid growth is playing a major role in the increase.
“The population is increasing every year a lot,” Boatman said. “Overall, traffic stops in the past five years have gone down, and a lot of that is because of the congestion on these roads. Where we used to see high speeds — speeds aren’t high anywhere.”
Construction and heavier traffic are also creating new safety concerns, especially along Highway 169. Owasso Police are partnering with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Collinsville Police Department to increase enforcement efforts.
During peak morning and evening commutes, drivers can expect to see a larger law enforcement presence focused on slowing traffic before vehicles reach construction zones.
Officers are targeting distracted driving and speed-related violations ahead of work areas, while also addressing road age, tailgating, and other dangerous behaviors within construction zones.
Boatman said safety remains the department’s top priority as the city continues to grow and roadwork expands across the area.
