MSP plays ‘laser tag’ on I-696 to reinforce good driver behavior

METRO DETROIT — Earlier this month, Michigan State Police decided to play a game of laser tag.

But it wasn’t the kind of laser tag you do on a fun night out with your buddies.

On June 15, troopers conducted Operation Laser Tag along Interstate 696 in Macomb County.

“The purpose of this operation is to look for drivers traveling at an excessive speed, tailgating or driving distracted,” the department tweeted June 15.

Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw, public information officer for MSP’s Second District, said the operation was initiated after the traffic statistics from 2021 were reviewed. It showed the highest number of traffic fatalities due to driver behavior in recent years, he said.

The five biggest factors, he said, were drivers operating at excessive speed, following too closely, texting while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and operating under the influence.

“We’ve been making good progress, but drivers are going back to old habits of operating while being under the influence and not wearing seatbelts,” he said.

Shaw said recent studies have shown that someone else taking money out of drivers’ wallets or being stopped for a traffic violation is more impactful than the fear of dying in a traffic crash.

“Most people think it’s not going to happen to them,” he said. “It’s always going to be someone else.”

Originally, the department announced they had made more than 160 traffic stops and issued over 180 citations. Later, it was announced the department made 180 stops, issued 210 tickets and gave 75 verbal warnings. In addition, they made one felony and two misdemeanor arrests during the operation.

Vehicles weren’t being stopped for driving just a few miles over the speed limit, Shaw said. One driver was stopped for doing in excess of 100 mph.

While the number of stops initiated during the operation would lead some to believe the operation was a success, Shaw said a successful operation would have led to no stops.

“A success would be that we didn’t stop anybody,” he said. “Unfortunately, it was very unsuccessful.”