Police

Helicopters Used for Traffic Enforcement

Chief Ronal Serpas today announced that, for the first time, the police department's helicopters are becoming actively involved in the enforcement of traffic laws, particularly speeding.

Beginning today, officers in the air will calculate the speed of vehicles traveling in a designated section of the Briley Parkway construction zone. Speeding vehicles will be identified and their descriptions radioed to waiting ground units a short distance away. The ground units will be responsible for stopping the speeding motorists. If a motorist should refuse to stop for the ground units, the helicopter will be immediately available to track the vehicle from the air, avoiding a ground pursuit.

"Aerial speed enforcement is a tremendous way to slow people down, particularly in construction zones where it is oftentimes too narrow to conduct effective ground enforcement by radar or laser," Serpas said.

The police department developed the aerial speed enforcement program in consultation with Davidson County's General Sessions judges, who hear all Traffic Court dockets.

"The judges are convinced that timed speed enforcement from the air works, and citations issued in conjunction with this new program will be treated the same as any others," said presiding General Sessions Judge Casey Moreland.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has joined the police department in this new effort by helping place subtle marks along roadways that designate the space in which a vehicle's speed is measured from the air. "While work zones are a necessary part of improvement in any city, keeping them safe for workers and motorists is of great importance and concern to us. We applaud the efforts of Chief Serpas, and hope our partnership with law enforcement will help keep Nashville a great and safe city," said Tennessee Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely.

TDOT reports during 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 129 fatalities in construction zones across Tennessee.

Although the helicopters will initially concentrate on Briley Parkway, the scene of 81 crashes so far this year, aerial enforcement is also planned for the interstate system and other major thoroughfares in Davidson County.

Chief Serpas said with today's announcement, the helicopters should also serve as a deterrent to speeding throughout Davidson County.

"As our helicopters fly over the city every day, motorists who see them should slow down. Aerial traffic enforcement in Nashville is here to stay," Serpas said.

Aerial speed enforcement is part of the police department's effort begun in mid-January to slow motorists down and reduce crashes. In the past month, calls for police relating to personal injury crashes are down 11.4% from the previous four weeks.

In 2003, 82 persons died in 77 fatal crashes in Davidson County. So far this year, 13 persons have been killed in 12 fatal crashes. Excessive speed continues to be a contributing factor in many of those tragedies.

Traffic citations for moving violations were up significantly last month (14,927), when compared with February 2003 (9,338).

"Aerial speed enforcement is a tremendous way to slow people down, particularly in construction zones, where it is oftentimes too narrow to conduct effectrive ground enforcement by radar or laser," Chief Ronal Serpas said.
"Aerial speed enforcement is a tremendous way to slow people down, particularly in construction zones, where it is oftentimes too narrow to conduct effectrive ground enforcement by radar or laser," Chief Ronal Serpas said.

The aerial enforcement program was developed in consultation with Nashville's General Sessions Judges. "The judges are convinced that timed speed enforcement from the air works, and citations issued in conjunction with this new program will be treated the same as any others," said presiding General Sessions Judge Casey Moreland.
The aerial enforcement program was developed in consultation with Nashville's General Sessions Judges. "The judges are convinced that timed speed enforcement from the air works, and citations issued in conjunction with this new program will be treated the same as any others," said presiding General Sessions Judge Casey Moreland.

Ranking Police Department Pilot, Lt. Tim Allen, explains that an officer in a helicopter is able to calculate a vehicle's speed by timing how long it takes the vehicle to travel between two designated marked points on the ground.
Ranking Police Department Pilot, Lt. Tim Allen, explains that an officer in a helicopter is able to calculate a vehicle's speed by timing how long it takes the vehicle to travel between two designated marked points on the ground.

The announcement of the aerial enforcement program garnered extensive media coverage. Here, Chief Serpas does a live interview with NewsChannel 5, Nashville's CBS affiliate.
The announcement of the aerial enforcement program garnered extensive media coverage. Here, Chief Serpas does a live interview with NewsChannel 5, Nashville's CBS affiliate.

One of the police department's six helicopters prepares to take to the air for aerial speed enforcement along Briley Parkway, a thoroughfare with construction zones in which numerous accidents have occurred.
One of the police department's six helicopters prepares to take to the air for aerial speed enforcement along Briley Parkway, a thoroughfare with construction zones in which numerous accidents have occurred.