Police Enforce New Car Crash Crackdown
By: Paige Preusse
Updated: June 23, 2012
NBC 2's Paige Preusse explains the reason for the crack down and what you can expect to see on the road.
Indiana State Police say more than 700 Hoosiers died in car crashes last year, about 60 more deaths than 2009.
"We would like to keep the roadways safe and show a low number of fatalities," said Ty Lightle.
To do that ISP begins a crash reduction enforcement program, and with it could come a price for drivers.
"The department isn't based on going out and writing everyone tickets, but since the numbers are up you could get a citation since that really gets people's attention," said Lightle.
ISP say speeding tickets are inexpensive compared to the cost of life, and with an uptick in the number of rural fatal crashes this year, writing more tickets is part of an aggressive approach to enforce Indiana traffic laws.
Indiana State Police are cracking down in many ways. One way is by using lidar guns; lazer guns that are target specific, providing a stationary officer with your speed and distance from their vehicle to yours.
"We're going to do more airplane patrols. Each district is going to do airplane patrols in the high crash areas,"said Lightle.
Police say there is no pattern for the location of crashes to help with prevention.
"Our current trends lead us to believe that random patrols in urban and rural areas are the best tool at this point," said Indiana State Police.
You can also expect more patrol cars, unmarked non-traditional stealth and state police vehicles on the roads, but it's all a way to save lives. Indiana State Police say the program that started today will continue until the number of fatalities significantly declines.
