Five-Day Pennsylvania State Police Crackdown Nets Results

17 May 2006

The Pennsylvania State Police removed dangerous drivers, unsafe commercial vehicles, weapons and illegal drugs from the commonwealth's highways during a five-day crackdown earlier this month, Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said today.

"For the second straight year, Operation Maximum Effort put hundreds of troopers on patrol duties across Pennsylvania," said Commissioner Miller of the May 2-6 initiative. "The intent of the operation was to remove the fugitives, drugs, weapons and other contraband that move across our highways. At the same time, we wanted to take an aggressive, proactive approach to our traffic law enforcement efforts heading into the summer driving season."

Through Operation Maximum Effort, State Police made 172 criminal arrests, apprehended 24 fugitives, detained 100 illegal aliens, placed 1,994 commercial vehicles out of service, issued 2,397 speeding citations and charged 172 motorists with driving under the influence. The exercise also led to the seizure of 10 weapons, 12 vehicles, nearly 1,900 baggies of heroin, 1,405 grams of marijuana, 79 grams of cocaine, and a small amount of methamphetamine.

Operation Maximum Effort put eight teams of troopers on major highways across the commonwealth. Each trooper received training through Operation SHIELD, which teaches officers how to identify potential signs of criminal activity after a vehicle has been stopped for any routine traffic violation, such as speeding.

A handler with a drug-sniffing State Police canine and a member of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Interdiction Unit was assigned to each of the eight teams.

The department also increased radar and aerial speed enforcement details, conducted a DUI enforcement effort, and assigned its motor carrier enforcement officers and Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program inspectors to conduct commercial vehicle inspections.

"Troopers issued more than 3,900 traffic citations, including 2,397 speeding tickets, and nearly 3,000 traffic warnings," Miller said.

As part of the DUI-enforcement effort, he said, 77 troopers and municipal police officers from northeastern Pennsylvania conducted Operation Nighthawk May 5-6 in the Scranton area. Participants received classroom training and then conducted roving DUI patrols each evening. The effort resulted in 35 DUI arrests, 12 underage drinking arrests, three drug-related arrests and 564 traffic citations being issued.

During the operation, State Police personnel seized $31,139, nine fake IDs, recovered two stolen vehicles, and stolen property valued at $12,085.

In addition to the 1,885 baggies of heroin, officers seized 1,405 grams of marijuana, 79 grams of cocaine and a small amount of methamphetamine.

"Our personnel inspected 8,427 commercial vehicles," Miller said. "As a result of those inspections, 1,994 vehicles and 687 commercial vehicle drivers were placed out of service. In addition, 5,500 citations and more than 15,000 warnings were issued to drivers and their vehicles."

He said weight enforcement personnel also weighed 1,060 commercial vehicles, resulting in the issuance of 115 citations and 49 warnings and the seizure of 16 permits.

Miller said personnel from the Department of Environmental Protection's six regional offices, working in conjunction with State Police, inspected 3,968 trash trucks at 52 locations during the operation. DEP inspectors found 469 operational and safety violations on 368 trucks.

DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said a single truck may have more than one violation, which can include such things as leaking loads, improper signs and enclosures, faulty fire extinguishers and inadequate municipal waste documentation.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted in the operation. The Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center at State Police provided intelligence and analytical support.

State Police conducted its first Operation Maximum Effort on May 11-14, 2005.

CONTACT: Tpr. Linette G. Quinn

Jack J. Lewis

717-783-5556

Source: prnewswire

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