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Spring vacation means extra work for OSP By JILL BRISKEY Inside an unmarked police vehicle parked off Interstate 5, Oregon State Senior Trooper Tony Bakker peered into the eyepiece of a laser speed detector. "It�s instantaneous. It�s incredible accurate," he said of the high-tech device. As a steady stream of traffic whizzed by Saturday afternoon, Bakker observed the different speeds in the 55 m.p.h. zone through the detector � a jeep clipping by at 67 mph, a Honda cruising past at 68. When a blue Astrovan speeds past, traveling 72 mph, Bakker springs into action. Many leave town for holiday The Rogue Valley is drawing more and more visitors over spring break who enjoy fishing, hiking or sightseeing. Their pleasure translates into a busy work week for the Jackson County Sheriff�s Department, according to Sgt. Terry Larson. "It�s a very busy week for us," Larson said, adding that deputies make do without any additional patrols. "People like to hit the back roads for recreation. It�s usually more about family activities." Within the city, Medford police aren�t anticipating any problems during this week. Most people just don�t hang around the city on this particular vacation, Medford Lt. Tim George added. "If anything, our activity drops. Most people head out of Medford, they don�t come here," George said. "It�s just another week. There�s no change in the plan." Instead of the sounding the siren and taking off, Bakker simply radios to one of several "catch" police cars parked in various locations further down the road, describing the speeding vehicle and its location. The responding trooper makes the "catch" by quickly stopping the motorist and issuing a citation. This allowed Bakker to continue his watch and call in the next speeder to another trooper stationed along the interstate. It�s a task involving teamwork, cooperation and quick action. It�s also a job that will continue throughout the Oregon schools� spring break in an effort to slow down motorists. The saturation patrol, which is focused on stopping speeding motorists, is a statewide effort that will extend up and down the Interstate 5 corridor, Bakker said. Troopers in almost every jurisdiction are working overtime to keep the roads safe over the busy holiday week. Their work is paid through funds from traffic safety grants. The event includes air support, Bakker added. An aircraft, which flew over the Rogue Valley Friday during the saturation, uses a timer to record a vehicle�s speed as it travels over markers on the roadway, Bakker said. The information is calibrated and radioed to a trooper on ground patrol. "We�re trying to hit all of the bases with as much manpower as possible without stressing the budget," Bakker said. "Our enforcement is pretty comprehensive." During the weekend event, which took place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, troopers were pulled from their normal routes but still responded to reports made in their regular patrol areas. Oregon State Senior Trooper Randy Becker issued several citations Saturday. As a 26-year veteran, he�s heard just about every excuse in the book and nothing came as a surprise. The bottom line, he added, is that drivers traveling faster than the posted speed limit are violating the basic rule and could receive a citation. "Sometimes people will have a valid reason for going a little faster. We don�t cite everyone we pull over, but most we do," Becker said. "A lot of them say they are going with the flow. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them speeding." Becker said he hopes the saturation, which will resume Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will heighten driver awareness and promote safety. "There are just so many distractions out there," he said. "The faster you go, the quicker something can happen." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.