Washington State Police Rely on New Technology to Apprehend Drunk Drivers
In an attempt to curb high levels of drunk driving, the state of Washington has begun utilizing specially equipped Cessna 206 airplanes in order to catch individuals driving under the influence. While the Washington State Police (WSP) has been in possession of several of these planes equipped with similar technology for some time now, due to funding shortages, the planes could not be utilized full time. However, in response to a large federal grant, two specially equipped Cessna 206 airplanes taken to the skies full time.
In order to provide the most effective DUI enforcement, these airplanes have been outfitted with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera system in order to track motorists from the air. This system works by detecting warm objects, such as a vehicle or an individual, against a cool environmental background. From the system's detection, a video image is compiled which can later be used in court against the accused DUI offender. Because the FLIR camera system uses thermal energy detection to create the video image, these camera systems can be utilized in all types of traffic conditions, including severe fog or during nighttime hours.
In order for these planes to isolate aggressive or impaired drivers, motorists can call "911" and alert the dispatcher that they have encountered an individual they believe to be driving under the influence. After providing the dispatcher with their general location, the dispatcher will provide the motorist's cell phone number to the pilot of the plane (a state trooper with the WSP), who will contact the motorist once the location is reached. The state trooper then requests that the motorist follow the aggressive or impaired driver while relaying information back to the trooper via cell phone.
Once the plane is situated over the offender's vehicle, the FLIR camera system is turned on and video data is recorded. As the plane follows the car, land-based troopers are radioed to the scene where they subsequently pull the individual over. If the motorist is driving while impaired, he or she will be arrested. If the individual is not impaired, the individual will receive tickets for the violations which were captured on tape by the plane's camera system.
WSP law enforcement officials have voiced their support of the planes, emphasizing the plane's element of surprise. "It's a lot of fun. You see a lot from the air. People speeding, passing on the shoulder, aggressive driving, bad lane changes. They have no idea that we're up above them", said Sergeant Jim Nobach, Washington State Police's Chief Pilot.
Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Lowell Porter, supported law enforcement's increased use of the specially equipped planes, stating, "Impaired driving continues to be the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes throughout Washington, and therefore remains our number one traffic safety priority." However, statistics indicate that only about half of motorists that call in suspected impaired drivers are correct in their assumption. In a bulletin which addressed local concerns regarding use of such planes in conjunction with civilian assistance, WSP Chief John R. Batiste stated, "We see an opportunity for us to improve our response to these very credible reports from sober drivers."
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