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89 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 24, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 23, 2004 OSP Trooper William Matson patrols the streets in this Chevrolet Impala. At first, it appears to be no different from any other new vehicle; but flip a switch to activate a set of emergency lights, and the car �lights up like a Christmas tree.� Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Stealth troopers OSP will conduct interstate highway traffic patrols using three unmarked Chevy Impalas — and one of them is in Southern Oregon By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Reckless drivers beware. A brand-new Chevrolet Impala patrolling the highway in an area near you is far more than meets the eye. The Oregon State Police has a gray 2005 Impala stationed at its Southwest Regional Headquarters in Central Point, as part of the agency’s new aggressive-driving enforcement program. Two troopers from the office are charged with taking the new wheels out for a daily spin on Interstate 5, looking for reckless motorists who put others in harm’s way. "This is not a car we use to stop the average speeder," OSP Trooper William Matson said. "Our goal is to take people off the road who are truly dangerous. "We’re not trying to be sneaky, but the car is meant to be stealth." At a glance, the Impala appears to be no different from any other new vehicle. But once an officer sees a reckless driver and flips a switch to activate a set of blue-and-red emergency lights, there’s no question it’s a police car. Advertisement "This thing lights up like a Christmas tree," Matson said. The Impala, which patrols Highway 62 from time to time, is one of three cars OSP is using to target aggressive drivers. The other "stealth" vehicles patrol I-5 near Salem and I-5 and I-84 near Portland, Lt. Dale Rutledge said. Troopers are primarily focusing on stopping drivers who endanger others while speeding, or commit multiple dangerous violations including making unsafe lane changes and following too closely. "We want to put a stop to menacing behavior on the road," Matson said. "As the population continues to grow, we see more and more incidents of menacing and road rage." During the first month of the new program, troopers from the Central Point, Salem and Portland stations issued more than 200 citations for aggressive driving-related offenses, Rutledge said. Last year, OSP fielded about 35,000 complaints regarding aggressive drivers. Matson said each shift spent patrolling the freeway in the Impala yields an average of about six traffic stops. "Somebody said to me ‘It’s not fair,’" Matson said of being stopped by the Impala. "I guess that depends on your definition of fair. We’re just trying to make the interstate safer for everyone." Besides the inset lights, the Impala is equipped with audio equipment and video cameras that record each traffic stop. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities