NCJ Number
84995
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 51 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1982) Pages: 2-7
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The use of fixed-wing aircraft by the Illinois State police to reduce traffic accidents and their severity, to assist motorists, and to help in supervising an orderly flow of traffic on the highway systems has proven cost effective.
Abstract
The aircraft fleet consists of seven single-engined planes used for patrol and one twin-engined aircraft used primarily for executive transportation. The aircraft are geographically distributed to reduce flying time to service areas throughout the State. Fixed-wing aircraft rather than helicopters were selected because of the size of the geographical area to be covered and their greater cost-effectiveness. To catch speeders, pilots and observers in the aircraft use stopwatches to determine the time it takes a given car to travel the 660 feet between white lines marked on the highways. The accuracy of this method of determining speed has produced about a 95 percent conviction rate for speeding cases clocked by aircraft. The use of the aircraft has also increased the number of speeders identified. Through the use of an outside speaker and public address system as well as a CB transmitter, aircraft officers are able to determine the problems of stranded motorists and take appropriate steps to assist them. Some secondary functions of the aircraft are supporting and coordinating ground patrols, search and rescue, special surveillance and photography, and emergency transportation. Evaluations of the use of the aircraft have shown them to be effective and efficient. Seven footnotes are listed.