Troopers in Johnston bag bunches of speeders

Smithfield, N.C. — Operation Slowdown – an effort by state troopers to enforce speed limits – netted 26,845 speeders during the past two weeks.

The crackdown, which targeted speeders on North Carolina's interstates, resulted in more than 1,700 tickets in Johnston County. Troopers patrolling Interstate 40, for example, nabbed drivers going up to 105 mph in a 65-mph zone and 118 mph in a 70-mph zone.

In the two-week operation, five drivers in the county were clocked at more than 100 mph, Highway Patrol Trooper D.J. Hare said.

“You’re just asking to die,” Hare said of the dangers of driving so fast.

Troopers in Johnston County say Interstate 95 is also a hot spot for speeders.

Last weekend, troopers assigned to Johnston County pulled over more speeders than usual. Each trooper stopped between 30 and 50 drivers a day, Hare said. Normally troopers pull over 10 to 20 motorists on a Saturday or Sunday.

Most drivers say they didn’t realize they were traveling as fast as they were or were not paying attention, Hare said.

Speed is the leading cause of wrecks on interstates, according to the Highway Patrol, and 359 people have died in such wrecks over the past four years.

Troopers normally issue about 5,000 speeding tickets a week statewide, officials said.

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Latest Comments

"I appreciate that they want to enforce the law, but don't understand why now seems to be the right time to enforce it. People are out of work, the economy stinks"---

Ahhh yes, the old "the economy is bad so we shouldn't enforce the law" bit. Excellent. lol

leo-nc
February 25, 2009 4:37 p.m.

Troopers have difficult jobs as do all law enforcement. I appreciate that they want to enforce the law, but don't understand why now seems to be the right time to enforce it. People are out of work, the economy stinks. Lots of people have very little if any extra money and HP thinks it's a good time to crackdown. Could it be their funding has been reduced and they need the income??? Perhaps if their higher ups were seriously into enforcing speed limits traffic flow on the beltline wouldn't be in the 80mph range on a regular basis. Everyone knows if you don't speed you run the risk of getting mowed down. Maybe it should be standard practice to crack down on speeders not something they do from time to time. Anyone else see and issue here with fairness? Seems ALMOST like selective enforcement.

DickHefner
February 25, 2009 4:27 p.m.

I received a speeding ticket when I was 16 from a NC State Trooper. He was 9 feet tall and made of concrete. Well, at least that is what he looked like to me. He not only gave me the ticket (which I earned), he yelled at me and made me cry! Then....he told my Mom! That was the first and last time I ever considered going over the speed limit. If a trooper yelled at a 16 year old today, parents would be at HP HQ's making a complaint. That "mean old trooper" instilled one very good lesson in my mind: "Speed kills". Wish they could yell at kids today like that!

eambaker
February 25, 2009 3:49 p.m.

Why would you be going that fast? 105 in a 65 Really! There is something that important.

sayitoutloud
February 25, 2009 11:31 a.m.

Speeding, like the lottery, can be considered another form of elective taxation. You take a chance, and if you lose, you enrich the States coffers. Not a bad deal for the rest of us!

Beachnut
February 25, 2009 11:25 a.m.