Indiana troopers’ high-tech radar guns can now catch tailgaters
BY CAROLE CARLSON Sun-Times Media/ccarlson@suntimes.com October 22, 2012 6:16PM
Indiana State Police Master Trooper Russell Hayes demonstrates their latest technology, the TruCam which not only captures video of speeders but can measure the speed, traveling time and distance between two vehicles for those following too closely in Gary on Monday October 23, 2012. | Jim Karczewski~for Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: November 24, 2012 6:20AM
The Indiana State Police trooper pointing a radar gun on your car on the Borman Expy. might not just be checking your speed.
The trooper could be checking if you’re tailgating the car in front of you, too.
Using software-enchanced laser speed guns, troopers can now clock your time and distance from the car or truck in front of you. If you’re less than two seconds behind, you could get a ticket in the $140 range.
On Monday, Sgt. Wanda Clay, a trooper in the commercial vehicle enforcement division, aimed the gun randomly from the Chase Street overpass over the Borman and snapped an image of a trucker driving too close to the pickup ahead of him.
“It was 0.7 seconds,” Clay said in reference to the time elapsed between the back bumper of one vehicle and the front bumper of the one behind. “That’s a ticket. We have the tools now.”
In the past, troopers had to rely on their own judgment.
The two laser devices, worth about $5,500 each, are only being used on the Borman, for now, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Ann Wojas, but she said the plan calls for every Indiana State Police district to receive at least one.
Besides capturing the traffic violation, the gun takes an accurate image of the license plate and driver’s face. “It’s awfully hard to dispute this in court,” Wojas said. Troopers can use the gun on an overpass or more typically along a shoulder of the Borman.
“I catch them before they get to me,” Master Trooper Russell Hayes said. “I have the evidence right here,” pointing to his laser gun.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment