DPS: Motorist clocked at 131 mph during air patrol crackdown
Posted: May 04, 2015 1:32 PMUpdated: May 04, 2015 1:50 PM
(Source: Arizona Department of Public Safety)
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DPS to launch career-criminal squad in Arizona
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is trying to zero in on repeat offenders with the creation of a career-criminal squad.
DPS Director Frank Milstead created a similar squad during his tenure as Mesa’s police chief.
Department of Public Safety officers made 72 traffic stops in a joint operation involving their aircraft and motorcycle fleet on State Route 51 southbound between 32nd Street and Northern Avenue.
On Saturday, 35 motorists were pulled over with the average speed of 90.6 mph on the 65 mph highway. The fastest vehicle clocked was going 102.1 mph.
On Sunday, 37 more motorists were stopped with the average speed of 92 mph.
A pilot and spotter crew aboard the DPS aircraft used tracking equipment and coordinated with ground units as they targeted excessive speed and other dangerous driving behavior.
DPS uses a fully-marked 1980 single-engine Cessna for patrol flights and can also use it to identify stranded motorists in need