LESSONS LEARNED

Enforcement Plan

An unanticipated benefit of the TACT pilot project was the camaraderie that developed between members of the State and local law enforcement agencies while working together. Enforcement worked well because of good relationships between the State and local law enforcement. Even more local law enforcement agencies and officers (at least three per agency) participating during the enforcement period would have been helpful. More local Chiefs and Sheriffs on the local news stories would have helped “put a face” on the project to the community.

The WSP aviation unit played a very important role in the intervention corridors, identifying passenger and commercial vehicle violators. Participating law enforcement mentioned aircraft use as the single most effective enforcement tool during the project. For those States that can apply air patrol to the campaign, it is highly recommended.

In determining the optimal number of enforcement waves to achieve the maximum impact, a general rule would be, more is better. However, given weather conditions, competing demands on law enforcement and limited resources, it was decided that three emphasis periods would be conducted as part of this demonstration effort. These emphasis periods were to occur in April, July and September 2005. However, due to delays in production of media materials and road signs, the April wave was cancelled.

Examples of how the project could have been refined include: 1) adding an identifier on the citation form to document when aircraft identified the violator; 2) dedicating an alternate radio frequency. An entire day of enforcement was lost to competing SWAT activity; 3) varying the hours of enforcement from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to a more traditional rush hour schedule of 6-10 a.m. and then 3-6 p.m.; and 4) insuring that each intervention corridor has someone in authority to make decisions.