03.09.2007

New application

Police in Clackamas County, near Portland, Oregon, booked over 100 drivers in an eight hour period last week after devising a new enforcement method. They rented a truck mounted utility lift from the local electricity company and placed a deputy in the basket posing as a utility worker.

Instead of working on the overhead wires he was watching the traffic lights at a dangerous intersection. Each time a motorist jumped the light he radioed details to colleagues on the ground who pulled them over and issued $242 tickets.

The operation was based at the intersection of Highway 212 and I-205, the officer in the basket did seem to be wearing some form of harness, but his platform was set up half on the road and half on the sidewalk with no attempt to level it. Perhaps OSHA should have been their to issue him with a citation for Improper set up?