CHICAGO (WGN) – There’s a new eye in the sky enforcing highway rules across the Chicago area. Cook County Sheriff’s officers are using a helicopter to help crack down on a common source of frustration: drivers who dodge traffic by illegally using the shoulder of the highway.
“There’s virtually nothing we haven’t heard,” said Officer Kevin Suchocki, referencing the excuses provided by stopped drivers. One recent offender claimed he needed to use the bathroom urgently after being spotted and pulled over with support from the airborne unit.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Department recently acquired an $11 million helicopter. Previously used to track carjackers and other fleeing suspects, the helicopter now flies regular patrols over major expressways, searching for drivers who use shoulder lanes to bypass congestion. When a violation is spotted, the air team radios the details down to officers on the ground.
The initiative has proved effective. In recent months, the department has issued 175 citations—each carrying a $250 fine—to drivers caught illegally using the shoulder.
“To say this is shooting fish in a barrel is an understatement,” said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.
Watch how the operation works by clicking the video player above.
https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/cook-county-sheriff-helicopter/
