State Patrol Planning Aerial Patrols in the Area Friday & Saturday

The Wisconsin State Patrol is planning to use aircraft
and ground-based officers to enforce speed limits and other traffic laws in
parts of the area on Friday and Saturday. Aerial patrols will be conducted on
Highway 23 in Fond du Lac County on Friday (May 3^rd), with a second
day of patrols planned Saturday on Highway 45 in Washington County. The State
Patrol announces these enforcement efforts to the public to reinforce that the
goal is voluntary compliance with traffic laws – not to stop or cite drivers.

State Patrol aircraft use a timing device known as VASCAR
(Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder) along with highway markings to
determine vehicle speeds. When speeders, aggressive or reckless drivers are
detected from the air, ground-based units are contacted to initiate a traffic
stop.

“The primary goal of these enforcement efforts is public
safety,” State Patrol Lieutenant Chris Jushka said. “Speeders and other
aggressive drivers risk more than a citation – they endanger the safety of
everyone along our roadways.” 2018 data shows there were nearly 20,000 speed-related
crashes in Wisconsin, which resulted in 7,957 injuries and 173 fatalities.