The Sidney herald., 1955-08-04
Montana State
Highway Patrol
Increases Vigil

Efforts of the Montana HIGH
way Patrol to curb violations
accidents and mass killing on
Montana highways during the LAST
lew years show a marked increase
IN patrol enforcement activity
The program. which has been
shaping up over the years. is now
an active statewide program
Modern and uniform traffic laws
effective since July l, is only one
phase of the program that has
oeen designed to help the motor
ISL 10 help the patrol to secrre
better and safer motoring.
Radar is n vof the newer
methods by which the patrol
checks its motorists to control
speed, the number one violation
IN the majority of all accidents
This speed, however. is usually
speed which is too fast for road
and car conditions, rather than in
excess of any set limit.
Radar is in the infant stage
IN Montana. 1t was first intro
duced last year when it was used
Tor demonstration purposes. The
effectiveness from the demonstra-
lions convinced the patrol that
radar speed checks were a must
for Montana.
The first radar set was used in
the Great Falls area in January
d this year. Since then. it has
oeen used from Missoula to Bill
lngs, and more radar sets will
De brought into the state before
he end of the year..
Since radar was introduced in
Montana, 702 motorists have been
stopped for speed violations. and
"a arrests have been made for
ms offenSe. Other motorists have
'ecelved warnings of caution.
Radar signs will be posted a+
nam exits from county seats and
.ther points to warn motorists p,
nat radar is being used. Radar :
lgnS have been sent to all high !
5ay division maintenance offices :
The recent switch in patrol cars :
a comparatively inconspicuous !
olor was made to urge motorists
, De on a constant vigil for ma
,olmen enforcing road rules :
lany ~violators, believing or :
moving that patrolmen are in :
area, maintain a temporary =
autlous driving habit until be- .
ond the patrolman's range. IF .
le nearnesS of a patrolman =
lakes motorists aware that there =
need for obeying laws and y
Ter driving, the new patrol cars =
lould eliminate temporary can :,
and make motorists more =
ert constantly. The goal is the "
auction of accidents through CO. q.
'eratlon and compliance with the "
ate laws.
The stepped up activity with I'll
arrests throughout Montana w
Is etterted to deter motorists IN
I'M ignoring state road rules ag
st year, 17,773 arrests were OF
lde. This is almost 5000 more w
IN were made in 1858. The IN
year period from 1850 through &c
averaged about 5000 ar II
Us Tor motoring violations each De
IT. re
LAST year, 818 motorists were 20
ested for driving while intoxi- 20
ed. This figure is an increase =
r recent years. A progressive
IRE has been recorded each
T since 1851 when $50 were Il
eSted for similar charges. ~
'hemical tests of blood and
ne are now being used to de- !
nine the alcoholic content of
blood of v~iolators. More than q
traffic v~iolators have submit e
voluntarily to these tests since ~
program was inaugur-
l last August.
recent years, the nation has sue
an increased highway motor vet
trend. More cars are on the 10
l at faster speeds. More peo- OF
both responsible and ire Ar
lslble, are driving, and the MO
aWay Patrol will continue its
ped up campaign to eliminate cen
igent motoring. per
and