PARIS — The Police Department is launching a campaign to combat speeding on high-traffic routes during the holiday season.

Police Chief Michael Madden in a news release Thursday announced Operation: PARIS, which will focus on Hebron Road (Route 119), Oxford Street and Main Street.

PARIS is an acronym for Preventing Accidents, Reduction In Speed.

A busy travel season, combined with the possibility of inclement weather, makes safe driving particularly important in the coming month and the department is doing its best to make sure everyone gets home safe and sound during the holidays, Madden said.

“We’re not looking to give out an enormous amount of fines right before Christmas, while everyone is doing their shopping,” he said in an interview Thursday. “Our goal is to educate the public that compliance with motor vehicle laws is an absolute must for roadway safety.”

Stricter enforcement will be concentrated on areas with more numerous safety and accident concerns.

“We have received a lot of complaints lately and our traffic statistics prove that these areas have the highest number of traffic accidents,” Madden said.

However, the campaign will not be limited to the three roads. More radar patrols will be noticeable throughout town, Madden said.

Madden would not disclose how many officers would be on duty at a given time, but he said radar enforcement details will be deployed concurrent with regular patrols.

“Patrolling will be done 24-7,” Madden said. “This is a project above and beyond normal routine patrol.”

The campaign will be conducted with the department’s existing budget, but may mean allocating overtime for the radar details, Madden said. The department is applying for state grant money to keep the program running into 2014.

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