Crackdown Catches Few Truckers

Virginia State Police officers cracking down on speeding motorists along Interstate 81 in handed out 1,730 summonses, but only 192 went to truckers.

Police conducted an eight-hour saturation patrol on Feb. 23, in response to demands by Gov. Jim Gilmore for increased enforcement to improve safety along the state’s highways.

Gilmore set up a task force and authorized a temporary assignment of 50 extra state troopers to address what he called “the growing menace of excessive speed on our Interstates.”

The crackdown was just the first of many, police officials said.

“In addition to more saturation efforts on I-81 in the future, we also are planning similar projects on I-95 and I-64,” said Col. M. Wayne Higgins, superintendent of the Virginia State Police.