WSP To Use New Technique To Bust Drunken Drivers

[nevadamedic]

WSP To Use New Technique To Bust Drunken Drivers

POSTED: 7:18 am PDT May 25, 2007
UPDATED: 10:05 am PDT May 25, 2007

EVERETT, Wash. -- The Washington State Patrol said it will be using a new technique to crack down on drunken drivers this weekend.

Authorities said the technique has never been used before.

Using aircraft equipped with Forward Looking Infrared Radar, police can see real-time live video of cars on the ground.

Police said specially equipped airplanes, video feed and troopers on the ground will all work in tandem Memorial Day weekend to help stop people from driving under the influence.

The State Patrol showed KIRO 7 Eyewitness News the FLIR in action last month.

Authorities said the public plays an important role in DUI crackdown and encouraged drivers to call 911 if they think they see an impaired driver.

Police said information received about possible drunken drivers will be relayed to troopers in a plane who will then track the driver and send live video to a command center.

Troopers on the ground can then move in to make an arrest if necessary.

The emphasis patrol will be on Interstate 5 in Snohomish County.

The State Patrol said they hope the program will result in no fatality crashes this weekend


http://www.kirotv.com/news/13389205/detail.html?subid=22105247&qs=1;bp=t

[loosecannon]

over the top

[nevadamedic]

over the top

What do you mean?

[loosecannon]

What do you mean?

Well the system sounds really flimsy.

Motorists report bad driving to WSP, WSP relays to air unit. Air unit locates suspect (maybe) monitors driving from air, assists in pavement level apprehension.

Giant waste of resources on minimally succesful program.

There is already technology to actually measure BAC at traffic lights and photo driver and licence with remote detectors. The same kinda machines that small bombs. They can read BAC from 50 feet.

They are fairly cheap compared to chopper hours. And would be 50 times as effective.

Overkill. Over the top.

[5stringJeff]

This is Washington state. It's "sexy" to spend money on DWI programs. Doesn't matter how effective it is. Kind of like Dems and the minimum wage.

[loosecannon]

This is Washington state. It's "sexy" to spend money on DWI programs. Doesn't matter how effective it is. Kind of like Dems and the minimum wage.

No kinda like John Edwards and haircuts.

[avatar4321]

No kinda like John Edwards and haircuts.

The point is its just a bunch of liberal waste of money.

[nevadamedic]

The point is its just a bunch of liberal waste of money.

How so?

[darin]

How so?

As mentioned - libs in this state don't solve problems; they throw money at problems.

[musicman]

The State Patrol said they hope the program will result in no fatality crashes this weekend

LOL - that's worded rather awkwardly, isn't it? Almost as if the cops are saying, "OK - we're going to give this thing a try - hope we don't kill anybody!"