DPS chief: Why officers are writing more tickets

You’ve told troopers to start writing more tickets. Why?

So far this year, the numbers of fatal crashes are up on Arizona's highways. When a car crashes on our highways and a person dies as a result, that one event has a ripple effect across populations. That person is always someone's mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife or child.

These fatalities also affect our troopers, dispatchers and emergency personnel who are usually the first to arrive on scene.

There is only so much that law enforcement can do to affect a change in driving behavior that may reduce these types of collisions. One of those things is having zero tolerance for drivers who are speeding, following too close and not wearing their seat belts.

Is excessive speed documented as the reason for the 35 percent increase in traffic deaths over last year?

No, speed is only one of many variables that cause traffic deaths. Many factors come into play, such as whether occupants are properly restrained, whether vehicles are properly maintained and the road conditions. The one constant in many of these incidents seems to be impairment.

What is more dangerous: Someone driving excessively fast or frustratingly slow?

It depends. Someone driving excessively fast can be dangerous in that reaction times are shorter, while someone driving too slow on a highway may create a hazard to those driving excessively fast.

Would speed cameras on highways have made a difference in the death count?

I cannot answer this question. Any variable including weather, road conditions or time of day can change an outcome. Speed cameras do not ensure that passengers are properly restrained. They do not prevent people from driving under the influence or while impaired.

We can go days without seeing a trooper. Do you have the resources to do this?

Our resources are what they are and we are working to increase the number of troopers on the roads within the limits imposed by the Legislature.

However, my directive to our troopers is to issue citations rather than warnings for excessive speed, seat belt usage and following too closely. This directive does not require more troopers; it is simply intended to get the message out that we can no longer tolerate driving behaviors that contribute to fatalities.

What do you need to reach full staffing?

The Legislature, the governor and the public have been extremely supportive of the work our troopers do. With that said, due to the recession a few years back and current retirements, we need to find qualified applicants to do the job. If you are interested in becoming an Arizona State Trooper please contact our Human Resources Unit at www.azdps.gov.

Wrong-way drivers have also been a menace. What are you doing on that front?

We are working with our partners — Arizona Department of Transportation and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety — on the three E's: engineering, education and enforcement.

A majority of drivers that go the wrong way on a highway are found to be impaired, another percentage of drivers are just confused. Thus, our troopers are working with our partners to ensure that we are doing everything within our means to stop wrong-way drivers.