BY WQAD DIGITAL TEAM
UPDATED AT 08:29 AM, MAY 7, 2019
EAST MOLINE, Illinois — Illinois troopers plan to start dressing up like construction workers as they patrol work zones.
“Somebody is going to get hurt,” disguised Illinois State Trooper Ron Salier said. “That’s why we’re out here. We are trying to make a difference and educate people.”
The undercover patrols were set to begin Monday, May 6 in conjunction with Work-Zone Safety Week, which lasts from May 6th through May 10th.
“It’s not about writing tickets,” Illinois State Trooper Jason Wilson said. “It’s not about pulling people over, it’s about keeping people safe.”
Wilson says so far in 2019, 19 trooper cars have been hit. 17 of those cars were pulled over on the side of the road.
“Reminding drivers the human element that they are actually driving through,” Wilson said. “This is a work zone. Imagine if you were at your office and somebody drove through at 80 miles an hour.”
According to the Illinois State Police, troopers will be watching for speeders, distracted drivers and other violators in construction zones. The campaign is called “Operation Hard Hat.”
“Our hope is the plain-clothes Trooper doesn’t observe any violations. That would mean drivers were operating their vehicles safely,” said Distict 7 Commander Captain Jason Dickey. “Sadly, that will probably not be the case.”
Up until now, patrols in work zones have been in marked vehicles.