Life in the fast lane

Local state troopers fanned out through Jones and Lenoir County this past weekend, issuing multiple citations for traffic offenses such as speeding and arresting at least five intoxicated drivers during the State Highway Patrol's "Booze it or Lose It: Operation Firecracker," and "Operation CARE" campaigns over the holiday weekend.

"They really are putting forth a good effort in trying to get accomplished the goals of these campaigns," Sgt. G.S. Hemby said Sunday as the two campaigns wound down.

Operation Firecracker, which began June 27, was a statewide effort to crack down on intoxicated and other unsafe drivers. CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) is a national annual campaign designed to curb aggressive driving. It began Thursday.

Hemby said all available troopers, three on the day shift and three on the night shift, were patrolling local highways.

The Free Press accompanied one of those troopers, D. E. McLawhorn, as he spent Sunday afternoon looking for speeders along U.S. 70.

Within an hour, McLawhorn had pulled over two speeders and checked on a stranded motorist.

He demonstrated the efficiency of his patrol car's radar unit, which allows a trooper to monitor the speed of vehicles coming from any direction.

McLawhorn was driving along westbound U.S. 70 when he spotted the first speeder, a woman driving a Mazda MPV minivan, traveling in the opposite direction. He explained that troopers are trained to visually estimate a vehicle's speed and then confirm using the radar.

The woman was already some distance away when McLawhorn made a U-turn and chased after her with his lights flashing and siren blaring. Drivers quickly pulled over as the trooper reached speeds of up to 100 MPH.

The woman pulled to the side of the highway just outside of Kinston. McLawhorn had clocked her doing 67 MPH in a 55 zone. Using the small computer in his car, he ran the woman's license, and then printed out a citation. All of the information he entered into the computer is sent by satellite link to an SHP database in Raleigh.

"Technology is a wonderful thing," McLawhorn said.

He explained that troopers and other law enforcement officers must take a variety of factors into account when deciding how to handle a traffic violation, including ensuring the safety of all parties involved, the legality of the stop, the severity of the offense and others.

McLawhorn, who has about 12 years of experience with the Kinston police, Lenoir County Sheriff's Office and the Highway Patrol, said he typically makes a decision before he leaves his vehicle and approaches the driver.

"All this stuff is happening in our heads in a matter of seconds," he said.

McLawhorn said most traffic stops are routine, but troopers must always watch for anything out of the ordinary because law enforcement officers are often killed or seriously injured by people pulled over during such stops.

"Just because you're having a good day doesn't necessarily mean they're having a good day," he said.

McLawhorn touched the taillight of both vehicles he pulled over Sunday afternoon. He said troopers make a point of touching each vehicle they stop to ensure their fingerprints are on it if they are hurt or killed and the car is found later.

"We've got to take what measures we have to do to protect ourselves, and if we do get hurt, we take measures to ensure they get the person that did it," he said.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077, or danderson@freedomenc.com