Grants increase Michigan State Police patrols

November 24, 2010|By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

Because of Michigan's budget deficit, every state department has gotten used to doing more with less, including Michigan State Police. At each post, officers have to juggle resources. That has led to fewer patrols on highly traveled roads and highways like Interstate 94.

I-94 has a reputation. Trooper Mike Sites’ near-miss on the interstate is now his screensaver. It serves as a reminder each time he is out on patrol.

Wednesday afternoon, Sites watches and waits for aggressive driving.

“We look for everything. That is part of our enforcement,” said Sites. “We look for violations like following too closely with this kind of traffic”

This trooper is also looking for people with a need for speed. Soon, it was easy to see.

Traffic is up on I-94 because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Grants are helping Michigan State Police increase patrols this weekend. For most of 2010, Sites and many other troopers who cover Michigan’s roads and highways have gotten used to doing more with less, because of state-ordered budget cuts.

“It’s the same amount of work and we’re doing it with fewer people,” said Sites.

In 2009, 100 troopers were forced off the road. The state saved almost 2 million dollars, but the reductions led to something else: Fewer patrols on the highway. Sites said allocating resources resembled a juggling act.

“Instead of report writing or other non-essential police work we had to do, we’d focus on traffic during the high-peak traffic hours,” said Sites.

With heavy traffic congestion already, and even more expected during the evening rush – a strong police presence is evident. Trooper Sites said the idea isn’t to just write a ticket, but to make sure you make it to your destination safely.

He said the extra enforcement lowers speed, limits distractions. And it does something else:

“Really to get drivers to pay attention to what’s going on around them,”

The number of traffic-related fatalities on Michigan roadways, during the Thanksgiving holiday, was down to 11 in 2009 from 13 the year before. There weren't any alcohol-related fatalities last year. There were seven the year before.

Trooper Sites said the extra patrols will be monitoring aggressive driving: following too closely, speed and seatbelt use.

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