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I think that I saw aircraft patrol in a helicopter this morning. I see signs on many highways saying that they are aircraft patrolled/enforced. Doing some quick math in my head I fail to see how this is a cost effective method for enforcing traffic code. Around my area, the typical out of pocket for someone speeding or breaking some other common traffic law will be about $100 after plea downs and whatnot. The cost to own and operate a helicopter for enforcement must eclipse that of a patrol car by a wide margin. Cost of the aircraft itself, fuel consumption (probably 25 gallons/hr), elevated salaries (pun intended) for flight crew/pilots, insurance, storage costs, maintenance of the aircraft, maintenance of a landing pad. At the end of all that you still need boots/wheels on the ground to hand out the citation.
Is this just another example of the inefficiencies we see in our local/state governments? Discuss.
The pilots do need to keep their flight hours up. Can't just sit and wait for the occasional manhunt, search and rescue, or high speed chase. That kills 2 birds with 1 stone.
With several police cars on the ground they can write dozens of tickets per hour. Usually the way I've seen it done the ground officers don't have to spend any time pursuing or pulling people over - once cars have gone through the speed trap officers just wave them over and give them a ticket. Whatever costs are associated with the aircraft seem to be made up in the sheer volume of tickets they can write.
At least in my area, the speed traps are out in very rural areas and run on holiday weekends so the odds of someone from out of town traveling back there to contest a ticket are pretty low.
The pilots do need to keep their flight hours up. Can't just sit and wait for the occasional manhunt, search and rescue, or high speed chase. That kills 2 birds with 1 stone.
"Practice" on speeders to keep certification hours up for real emergencies or opportunities to use air support.
My County has two helicopters. Twin jet turboshaft Bell 429s that cost over $5 million each and suck kerosene like nobody's business. They fly everyday but they're used for manhunts, medevac, etc only...not speeding tickets. Incidentally, only one of the dozen or so pilots is actually a cop, the rest are former military pilots. Costs way too much to train pilots (1250 hours minimum).
The State Police does use aircraft occasionally for speed enforcement, but they use small (relatively cheap to run) planes like Cessnas, etc.
My County has two helicopters. Twin jet turboshaft Bell 429s that cost over $5 million each and suck kerosene like nobody's business. They fly everyday but they're used for manhunts, medevac, etc only...not speeding tickets. Incidentally, only one of the dozen or so pilots is actually a cop, the rest are former military pilots. Costs way too much to train pilots (1250 hours minimum).
The State Police does use aircraft occasionally for speed enforcement, but they use small (relatively cheap to run) planes like Cessnas, etc.
Exactly. Small fixed wing aircraft, like a Cessna 172 are used for speeding tickets and more mundane activities. The Alaska State Troopers have a turbine helicopter and I've never heard of it being used for traffic enforcement.
Is this just another example of the inefficiencies we see in our local/state governments? Discuss.
Its inefficient for the cops to chase and arrest, and jail, the guy that smashes a car window ($50 plus labor) for a $125 dollar navigation unit. But that doesn't mean I want them to let the guy go because it costs more to feed him in the jail cell and pay for his probation officer, etc...Sometimes it really is about keeping the roadways safe.
its all about managing resources. in the city, helicopters can be used primarily for manhunts, and other things. in the country though where officers are fewer density wise, light aircraft are used to cover larger areas and send officers where they are needed. the highway patrol here in uses light aircraft also in low density areas.
Its inefficient for the cops to chase and arrest, and jail, the guy that smashes a car window ($50 plus labor) for a $125 dollar navigation unit. But that doesn't mean I want them to let the guy go because it costs more to feed him in the jail cell and pay for his probation officer, etc...Sometimes it really is about keeping the roadways safe.
Lets not confuse CRIMES with CIVIL INFRACTIONS.
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