They see you when you’re speeding, they know when you’re irate, you’d better watch your driving, as cops will be out across the state. That’s the message from Iowa State Patrol Colonel Robert Garrison — who says law officers will conduct special enforcement efforts on the roadways during the Christmas holiday.
Garrison says the goal of the combined effort is to increase the awareness of problems and increase the law enforcement presence. Garrison says they’ll target drunk drivers, seat belt violators, speeders, and the “up and coming problem” of aggressive driving. Garrison says state, local and county officers will be out in force with money from special enforcement programs.
Garrisson says one is called “CARE” Combined Accident Reduction Effort, and another called “STEP”, or Special Traffic Enforcement Program. Garrison says it provides them the opportunity to saturate specific locations and provide additional enforcement at critical times. Garrison says he’s especially interested in the increase in aggressive driving.
Garrison says drivers on the interstate slam on their brakes, don’t use their signals, or force people off the side of the road and try to cause an accident. Garrison says the aggressive driving is something that’s spread across the country.
Garrison says it was a problem several years ago and the east and west coasts, and those departments designed special units to address the problem. Garrison says the State Patrol will use unmarked cars to address the problem.
Garrison says he saw the problem first hand as he exited off an interstate mixmaster near Des Moines. Garrison says he was in an unmarked car and another car came up behind at a high rate of speed and wouldn’t let Garrison merge into traffic. Garrrison says he pulled his car to the shoulder and the other driver smiled at him. Garrison says, “And then he saw the patch on my coat, and we talked.”
Garrison says he issued the other driver a ticket and a stern lecture. Garrison says drivers can help officers by slowing down, buckling up and being courteous to other drivers.