You could be fined nearly $200 for blocking intersections

ATLANTA — Atlanta police want to make sure drivers don't block intersections, also known as blocking the box, the square where the streets meet.

They said if they can keep drivers from sitting in the box during a red light, they can keep traffic flowing.

Police officers were out at 5:30 a.m. Monday directing and stopping traffic from blocking the intersections on busy roads.

[TRAFFIC: Real-time traffic information to help you get around the collapse ]

Officers tell Channel 2's Dave Huddleston they were back out Monday around 3:30 p.m. for rush hour. They said they will continue to do this every morning until drivers, especially in the area near the I-85 bridge collapse, get the idea not to block the box.

Police told Huddleston drivers could be fined nearly $200 if intersections are blocked.

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"As long as we can keep people out of the intersection, not blocking the box, the traffic seems to flow, we gotta have a place to put cars, that why we can't have people in the intersection, the biggest concern is people not being patient, laying on their horns, we just need you to be courteous and give us a chance to move this traffic,” Sgt. Warren Pickard said.

[READ: Click here for more information on alternate routes]

Pickard said one thing he noticed Monday morning was everyone is in a hurry. He is asking everyone to take a breath and just slow down.

Cox Media Group