NATCHEZ — Now that the City of Natchez has acquired 2.68 square miles of county land, the Natchez Police Department has acquired more land to patrol.

As a result of the U.S. Justice Department’s approval of the city’s annexation request, drivers along U.S. 61 and Old County Club Road should expect to see Natchez patrol cars cruising the area.

“We will be working more accidents and working traffic all the way out to the (new) city limits,” Police Chief Mike Mullins said Tuesday.

Mullins said the extra patrolling, particularly along U.S. 61, will not put a strain on police department resources — at least not yet.

“It’s such a short distance, we don’t anticipate any change or problem at all,” Mullins said. “There’s no concern at all because there are no residents there.

“But in the future, when there are residents and businesses there, then it’s possible we may see an increase in calls for service.”

Glenn Green of Paul Green & Associates and Ricky Edgin of Edgin Construction Co., who together purchased 760 acres along U.S. 61 South, requested the annexation for a mixed commercial and residential development now in its beginning stages.

The development includes an area of residential development along Southwind Road on the east side of the highway. Green and Edgin have sold five tract on that road, five to 11 acres each.

One buyer has purchased 95 acres and plans to build a house on the west side of the highway. Green said there have not been any recent sales.

Mullins said the police department will enforce speeding and seat belt violations in the newly annexed area, as it does citywide.

The police department recently received a $20,000 seat belt restraint grant from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Mullins said the majority of the grant will be used to pay officers for overtime traffic enforcement.

Mullins said the fine for adult seat belt violations is $25. The fine for child seat belt violations is $130.