Operation “Blue Light” I-70 Patrol to Begin In Indiana and Ohio

Tomorrow, June 4th, begins the joint enforcement project between the Indiana State Police and the Ohio Highway Patrol known as “Operation Blue Light.” The joint effort will concentrate on reducing crashes and curtailing criminal activity along the I-70 corridor across both states with Indiana State Police Districts from Pendleton, Indianapolis and Putnamville participating.

The joint effort will involve state police and highway patrol posts from the West Virginia border to the Illinois border along I-70 from June 4th through August 31st. Indiana State Police Captain Bob Burke said “What is substantial about this effort is our ability to work with our neighboring state law enforcement agencies to make our highways safer.”

Captain Burke went on to say “We will concentrate on reducing fatal crashes, removing intoxicated drivers and removing the criminal element along this major thoroughfare.” The enforcement effort will include troopers as well as Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) personnel from both states.

Lieutenant Jon Payer, Piqua District Criminal Patrol Commander for the Ohio Highway Patrol, said “It’s a natural fit, as we have two like minded agencies coming together to reduce injury and fatal crashes, as well as removing the criminal element from our highways making for a safer Ohio and Indiana.”

Indiana Troopers will be utilizing fully marked and unmarked Chargers, unmarked Mustangs and Harley Davidson Motorcycles looking for crash causing violations like following too closely, unsafe speed and unsafe lane movement. Troopers will also be using unmarked white INDOT pickup trucks in construction zones looking for unsafe drivers.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement personnel in Indiana will be checking trucks for safety violations, fatigued drivers as well as unsafe food shipments. Scale houses in both states will be utilized to enforce the overweight truck laws and K-9 Units will be utilized to check vehicles and trucks for contraband.

The Indiana State Police remains committed to reducing the number of impaired driving crashes as well as all crashes. Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel. Never follow impaired driver.