GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — The Colorado State Patrol uses radar guns to curb one of the biggest factors in deadly crashes, and gave an inside look at the technology on Thursday.
On Interstate 70, between Golden and Morrison, Trooper Hunter Mathews used LIDAR technology to make four speeding stops in 41 minutes. Drivers were caught going 77 miles per hour to 85 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Only one of the drivers, who allegedly went 20 mph over the posted limit, got a speeding citation. The other stops resulted in education to prevent future crashes.
“Speed is one of the biggest factors in fatal crashes that we have in the state of Colorado and speed kills,” said Mathews.
Speed was a factor in 286 crashes CSP responded to this year, with 24 of those crashes being fatal.
“We’re not trying to be annoying to the public. We’re trying to save lives. And that’s the ultimate goal of the Colorado State Patrol ever,” Mathews said.
The LIDAR radar gun is a tool to keep CSP’s goal on track.
“I’m targeting a vehicle, I’ll shoot the laser at them three times and make sure that I can get a a consistent speed on that vehicle,” Mathews said. “I’ve actually stopped a car for going 145 in a 65.”
Mathews told FOX31 that tracking speed can lead to other opportunities to serve and protect.
“Warrants, DUIs, anything under the sun really,” Mathews said. “As well as stopping that vehicle from speeding, you’re going to find various other things throughout the entire stop, as well as meeting cool people.”
So far this year, CSP issued 32,630 citations for speeding. As FOX31 saw on Thursday, stops don’t always end in a citation, but sometimes in preventative education and warnings.
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