State police to increase patrol during Memorial Day weekend

State Troopers and other law enforcement will increase their numbers during Memorial Day Weekend through several initiatives, including the Click it or Ticket
Enforcement Campaign.

This campaign has been credited with a dramatic increase in seat belt use in Indiana, from 63 percent in 1995 to 93 percent in 2011, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute website.

The website also reports that 52 percent of all occupants killed in crashes in Indiana were not wearing their seat belts or properly restrained.

Young people are less likely to buckle up. Of those killed in crashes between the ages of 18 and 34, 62 percent were not wearing their seat belts.  

“If you put more vehicles out and more police cars are seen, more people comply on their own,” Indiana State Police Trooper Mike Adams said. “If in the past 100 miles you’ve passed 15 police cars, you’re probably going to watch your speed a little bit better, you’re probably going to make sure that seat belt is on, you’re probably going to drive a little better, if you will.”

For Memorial Day Weekend, State Troopers will keep an eye out for seat belt violations, according to a press release.

They will also take part in Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort, as well as the Statewide Driving Under the Influence Project.

“Troopers will be specifically looking for drivers who speed, follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively and fail to buckle up or to properly restrain children,” according to the release.  

While the number of officers on the road might decline after this weekend, extra officers will still conduct special patrols around the clock as part of the Click it or Ticket Campaign until June 3.

— Darryl Smith