Two-thousand traffic stops as State Patrol took part in aerial enforcement missions in 2014

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- To crack down on speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors, Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of State Patrol pilots flew 87 traffic safety aerial enforcement missions in 2014.

State Patrol officers worked in partnership with other law enforcement agencies during the federally funded aerial enforcement missions. Their results in 2014 were:

In addition, as the result of aerial enforcement mission traffic stops, there were  15 drug arrests, four felony arrests, 24 misdemeanor arrests and eight warrant arrests.

Many of the missions were announced in advance on Twitter (https://twitter.com/WisconsinDOT) to increase voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

“Aerial enforcement is a valuable traffic safety enforcement tool. From the air, our pilots can identify traffic violations as they occur over an extended distance and expanse of roadways. In addition, pilots can detect traffic violations in areas that are difficult for enforcement by officers on the ground such as construction work zones, no passing zones, and roadways without adequate shoulders or median crossovers for stopped cruisers," David Pabst, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety said.