News

May 24, 2011
Enforcement Totals for Operation Air, Land & Speed
Interstates 81 & 95 Focus of Two-Day Safety Project; 'Click It or Ticket' Continues

RICHMOND – Operation Air, Land, and Speed returned to Interstates 95 and 81 yielding 5,814 summonses and arrests during the two-day enforcement initiative which took place Sunday, May 22, and Monday, May 23, 2011. Once again, there were no reported fatalities on either interstate during the course of the operation. The last time Operation Air, Land & Speed focused on Interstates 95 and 81 was in March where 3,552 violations were cited by Virginia State Police.

The specialized enforcement yielded 3,102 violations along I-81, which stretches from the Tennessee border to West Virginia. Four drunk drivers were arrested and seventeen drug/felony arrests were made by state police. Troopers stopped 1,725 speeders and cited 351 reckless drivers. In addition, there were 132 safety belt violations.

Along Interstate 95, which extends from the North Carolina border to Maryland, state police cited 2,712 violations. Two drunk drivers were arrested and 11 drug/felony arrests were made. State police cited 1,158 drivers for speeding and issued summonses to 460 individuals for reckless driving. In addition, 97 safety belt violations were issued.

This is the nineteenth time Operation Air, Land & Speed has concentrated on Interstate 95 and 81 since its inception in 2006. It is also the second time in 2011 the two north-south interstate corridors have been the target of the special enforcement.

Since 2006, this has been the 34th Operation Air, Land & Speed enforcement campaign along Virginia’s interstates and brings the total summonses and arrests to 171,380.

The comprehensive enforcement project utilizes troopers, supervisors and motor carrier troopers. State police operational duties on other interstates, primary and secondary roads are not affected during the operation. Funding for the enforcement initiative is provided through federal highway safety monies. Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.

The two-day traffic safety campaign also kicked off at the same time as the annual spring launch of Virginia’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign which began Sunday, May 22. Click It or Ticket is a high visibility enforcement program designed to raise safety belt usage and save drivers and passengers from death or serious injury on the streets and highways of the Commonwealth.

Virginia’s statewide safety belt compliance rate is currently 80.5 percent. This year’s goal is to increase that usage rate to 83.7 percent. The Click it or Ticket enforcement wave will continue through June 5, 2011

###