Putnamville troopers part of joint I-70 saturation patrols

Thursday, July 18, 2013

PUTNAMVILLE -- Troopers from the Putnamville, Pendleton and Indianapolis posts of the Indiana State Police have recently joined in a joint saturation patrol along interstate 70 with the Ohio Highway Patrol.

The ongoing project, known as Operation Blue Light, is aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and curtailing criminal activity. The project began June 4.

Indiana and Ohio troopers are concentrating their efforts on I-70 from the Illinois border east to the West Virginia border, looking for criminal activity and crash-causing violations like following too closely, unsafe lane movement, excessive speed and impaired drivers.

Troopers and motor carrier inspectors from the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will continue to work on I-70 throughout the summer, conducting safety inspections and checking for overweight trucks.

A compilation of Indiana enforcement efforts occurring during June includes (individual statistics for the Putnamville area were not available):

* Traffic citations -5,772.

* Warnings issued -- 1,916.

* Suspended drivers -- 145.

* Impaired drivers -- 32.

* Crashes investigated -- 94.

* Motorist assists -- 329.

* Criminal arrests -- 28 felonies, including 12 felony drug charges and 38 misdemeanors.

* Contraband seized -- Marijuana, 324 lbs.; cocaine, 2 grams; meth-amphetamine, 3 grams; ecstasy, 3 grams; hash, 1 gram; synthetic K-2, 20 lbs; and bath salts, 7.5 lbs.

* Currency seized - $167,853.

* Commercial motor vehicles inspected -- 381 with 740 Department of Transportation violations found.

* Commercial motor vehicle tickets -- 96.

Operation Blue Light continues through Aug. 31. Indiana State Police remains committed to reducing the number of impaired driving crashes as well as all crashes, officials note.

Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911. Give a vehicle description, location and direction of travel.

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