The Washington State Patrol said Monday it will continue to routinely use an airplane to catch aggressive drivers who are treating I-5 like a raceway.
Since July, the State Patrol has used its Cessna to pinpoint aggressive speeders on I-5 north of Smokey Point.
State officials estimated that each day nearly 60 vehicles are topping 90 mph on that stretch of road in north Snohomish County. The speed limit is 70 mph.
Last year, about 13,400 northbound vehicles were recorded traveling at least 90 mph in the area, according to the state Department of Transportation. Nearly 8,400 southbound drivers were clocked at 90 mph or higher.
“I don’t know what it is about that area. People just kick up their speeds and it is dangerous to everyone on the roadway,” trooper Kirk Rudeen said.
In just two hours on Sunday, troopers stopped 19 vehicles in the area traveling more than 85 mph, Rudeen said. Nine of those vehicles hit speeds higher than 90 mph. One topped out at 102 mph and another was clocked at 103 mph.
“Traffic was heavy and significant speeds like that are just insane and ridiculous,” Rudeen said.
Troopers handed out seven $538 tickets for second-degree negligent driving. Two other people were cited for reckless driving and could face jail time and large fines, Rudeen said.
The drivers, men and women, ranged in age from 19 to their mid-50s.
“These are the people, who if we have a fatal or serious injury crash, will be causing it,” Rudeen said. “There’s just no need to go that fast.”
Rudeen said the airplane is helping catch up with those extreme speeders.
Local troopers have been using the aircraft patrol more regularly in Snohomish County, Rudeen said.
The airplane goes up a few times a week, zooming in on drivers who are speeding, making erratic lane changes and putting other drivers in danger, Rudeen said.
The aircraft monitors traffic from above, where it goes unnoticed by drivers and radar detectors.
Once the speeding vehicles are spotted from the air, the information is radioed to troopers along the freeway who stop the speeders.
“The aircraft is very effective way and it’s extremely accurate,” Rudeen said. “It’s here to stay. It could be out any time.”
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