Hey, Fellow Leadfoots!

[otterinbham 0]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Department of Public Safety announced Thursday a new state

trooper initiative to fight Alabama’s increasing traffic fatalities. DPS Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy said

the program, “Take Back Our Highways,” will place all available troopers — from all divisions and all ranks —

on patrol duty Aug. 13-17 in an intensive highway safety effort. Additional “Take Back Our Highways”

intervals will be scheduled throughout the year.

Joining Murphy in announcing the program were District Attorney Ellen Brooks, Montgomery, and

District Attorney Richard J. Minor, St. Clair County. The Alabama District Attorney’s Association and

Executive Director Randy Hillman have partnered with DPS in “Take Back Our Highways,” said Murphy.

Murphy said the increase in Alabama traffic deaths — at their highest level since 1973 — prompted the

initiative. Alabama traffic deaths rose more than 5 percent in 2006, to 1,208, when traffic deaths nationwide fell

2 percent. “At a time when traffic fatalities nationwide are on the decline, we cannot say the same is true for

Alabama,” said Murphy. “Tragically for our state and for all who share her highways, traffic fatalities in

Alabama have increased.”

Every available state trooper will be in uniform and on patrol during the program, including the addition

of approximately 200 troopers normally assigned to duties other than patrol. “I will be taking Alabama Bureau

of Investigation agents away from their normal duties for that week, and I will have Driver License troopers

working the roads during that week.

“From Aviation, to our training academy, to the majors and captains who serve on my staff, every

available trooper will be in uniform and on our highways Aug. 13-17,” said Murphy. He said there will be some

exceptions, including critical ABI investigations, court appearances, and protective details. The colonel said

leave will be restricted during the period.

“The district attorneys of Alabama join with the Department of Public Safety’s efforts to decrease

vehicular fatalities,” said Minor. “As prosecutors, we are all too familiar with the stories of drivers who have

killed or caused serious injuries to themselves and other motorists on the roadways of Alabama due to speeding

and aggressive driving. Furthermore, we have committed to the vigorous prosecution, as we do every day in

courtrooms across our great state, of those who would ignore the warnings given today.”

Troopers will target primary violations that cause crashes and contribute to more severe crashes,

Murphy said. These include speeding, failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, driver inattention,

and DUI. “We will engage in routine patrol, we will assist motorists, and we will aggressively enforce traffic

laws,” he said.

Throughout the state, troopers will target crash-prone areas and implement line patrols, saturation

patrols, driver license checkpoints, and LIDAR details. Murphy said the public can expect to see a marked

increase in the number of troopers on the road and a marked increase in the number of citations issued. “The

goal is saving lives,” said Murphy. “We believe that goal is worth the effort.”

Murphy said Gov. Bob Riley and the Alabama Legislature’s support have allowed Public Safety to hire

additional troopers to supplement the state’s ranks. “Thanks to Gov. Riley and the Legislature, we have a class

of troopers in training now, we plan to hire a class in October, and we are implementing a long-term hiring

program,” said Murphy.

[AU_tiger_2000 0]

Transaltion:

Tickets = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[sandyclawedtiger 207]

The community I live in is already known as a speed trap. (Gulf Breeze, Fl.) Now they are discussing charging for the service of the officers if you have an accident. Don't we already pay them from the taxes they collect. One of these days I'm buying myself an island.

[TigerHeat 9]

Otter, am I reading correctly between the lines here that you are worried 'bout DWB?

[AUloggerhead 2,841]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Department of Public Safety announced Thursday a new state

trooper initiative to fight Alabama’s increasing traffic fatalities. DPS Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy said

the program, “Take Back Our Highways,” will place all available troopers — from all divisions and all ranks —

on patrol duty Aug. 13-17 in an intensive highway safety effort. Additional “Take Back Our Highways”

intervals will be scheduled throughout the year.

Joining Murphy in announcing the program were District Attorney Ellen Brooks, Montgomery, and

District Attorney Richard J. Minor, St. Clair County. The Alabama District Attorney’s Association and

Executive Director Randy Hillman have partnered with DPS in “Take Back Our Highways,” said Murphy.

Murphy said the increase in Alabama traffic deaths — at their highest level since 1973 — prompted the

initiative. Alabama traffic deaths rose more than 5 percent in 2006, to 1,208, when traffic deaths nationwide fell

2 percent. “At a time when traffic fatalities nationwide are on the decline, we cannot say the same is true for

Alabama,” said Murphy. “Tragically for our state and for all who share her highways, traffic fatalities in

Alabama have increased.”

Every available state trooper will be in uniform and on patrol during the program, including the addition

of approximately 200 troopers normally assigned to duties other than patrol. “I will be taking Alabama Bureau

of Investigation agents away from their normal duties for that week, and I will have Driver License troopers

working the roads during that week.

“From Aviation, to our training academy, to the majors and captains who serve on my staff, every

available trooper will be in uniform and on our highways Aug. 13-17,” said Murphy. He said there will be some

exceptions, including critical ABI investigations, court appearances, and protective details. The colonel said

leave will be restricted during the period.

“The district attorneys of Alabama join with the Department of Public Safety’s efforts to decrease

vehicular fatalities,” said Minor. “As prosecutors, we are all too familiar with the stories of drivers who have

killed or caused serious injuries to themselves and other motorists on the roadways of Alabama due to speeding

and aggressive driving. Furthermore, we have committed to the vigorous prosecution, as we do every day in

courtrooms across our great state, of those who would ignore the warnings given today.”

Troopers will target primary violations that cause crashes and contribute to more severe crashes,

Murphy said. These include speeding, failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, driver inattention,

and DUI. “We will engage in routine patrol, we will assist motorists, and we will aggressively enforce traffic

laws,” he said.

Throughout the state, troopers will target crash-prone areas and implement line patrols, saturation

patrols, driver license checkpoints, and LIDAR details. Murphy said the public can expect to see a marked

increase in the number of troopers on the road and a marked increase in the number of citations issued. “The

goal is saving lives,” said Murphy. “We believe that goal is worth the effort.”

Murphy said Gov. Bob Riley and the Alabama Legislature’s support have allowed Public Safety to hire

additional troopers to supplement the state’s ranks. “Thanks to Gov. Riley and the Legislature, we have a class

of troopers in training now, we plan to hire a class in October, and we are implementing a long-term hiring

program,” said Murphy.

Isn't trying to slow the number of accidents/fatalities a good thing? Hardly worth calling them the Gestapo. This happens from time to time in WA state too. They have sensors in the roads up here that detect & record traffic speeds. When the data indicate speeders are happening on a too frequent basis in certain spots, the WSP troopers descend on those areaa in force and start writing tickets. It's actually a good use of public resources -- send them where they're needed the most. It beats having them burn gas around the highways at random.

[Grider 1]

I've been a leadfoot for years, but it has gotten out of hand lately with other drivers going mach 9 every place on the interstate. I drive a steady 80 on most rural interstate and get passed like a slug on a log by various cars, usually with out of state plates.

I'm glad they are doing this; it really has gotten ridiculous of late. I might be the first against the wall though as some of these speed limits are stupid low.

[SLAG-91 1,760]

I might be the first against the wall though as some of these speed limits are stupid low.

*ahem*Montgomery*ahem*

50 mph...it's been that way for at least 20 years and it's just dumb. I don't think I've ever driven slower than 60 through there when traffic is flowing normally.

[jumbo 0]

That is a big pile of wincrimson, they are just trying to make some damn money

[otterinbham 0]

Let me put it this way. I have had ONE speeding ticket in my entire life. Mind you, I don't drive like your grandmother. Typically, I'm about 5-10 mph over the speed limit, which is absurdly low in most places, geared to determine the safe speed in the worst possible conditions. If you want to ticket somebody doing 95 on the interstate, or swerving in the road, or changing lanes without a signal, feel free to ding those guys all day long. But to nail people for driving 80 mph on a lightly travelled interstate is just stupid.

Being the civil libertarian I am, I don't like the scale of this enforcement. In the past several years, the police have started having checkpoints for drivers licenses and seat belts. So, very subtly, we have moved beyond stopping people for violating the law and moved into the area of stopping people because they MIGHT be violating the law.

And, really, what right is it of the government to demand I wear a seatbelt anyway. I do, of course. Every passenger in my car must wear one, too. I think people who don't wear seatbelts are idiots. But people have a right to be idiots. Look at BamaPerry.

[TDAuburn 2]

I'm good w/ ticketing speeders at 15 or 20 over, but otherwise, nail the tailgaters, inattentive drivers (cell phone yakers, putting on makeup, etc.). At least once a week on my commute on the bike some idiot on a cell phone, sipping latte, checking their hair, fiddling with the stereo, etc. tries to run me over. I've seen people reading a book or newspaper... on the freeway at 70+, and some watching a portable DVD on the dash.

[Ranger12 53]

I don't see the big deal. Sounds to me like they are just saying they are going do be doing something that our tax money pays for them to do.

I admit that I drive around 75-80 on the interstate, but what happens is that since most people think 10 mph over is allowed, you get more people trying to stretch that to 15-20 mph.

Then, as already stated, you also get people looking at things in the car instead of paying attention to outside the car. That is why I still do not understand the reason for those DVD monitors that are connected to the radio on the dash. It is one thing to have them on the back of the seats for the backseat passengers, such as your kids to watch, but how can it be safe to have those things up front to distract the driver?

However, my biggest pet peeve on the road is the guys that drive those high performance bikes. Most of these guys show no concern for the danger they place others in, besides themselves, when they think it is smart to drive close to 100 mph while weaving through traffic. I know there are some responsible riders out there, but it just seems like I see a lot more of the irresponsible variety.