Two Drivers Going Over 100 MPH Busted in Southern Oregon

According to OSP enforcement data, in 2006 OSP troopers issued 537 citations to drivers going 100 mph or faster.

Salem-News.com

(ROSEBURG, Ore. ) - An Oregon State Police trooper in the Roseburg area was involved in two high speed driver-related contacts Monday afternoon that led to citation or arrest of the involved out-of-state drivers.

The contacts were consistent with recently released statistics by Oregon State Police reflecting an increase in drivers cited for traveling at speeds 100 mph and higher, including a more than 20 percent increase in out-of-state drivers contacted.

At 12:10 p.m. OSP Senior Trooper Donald Campbell checked a 2000 Chrysler Voyager minivan southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 139 at 100 miles per hour.

Upon contact the driver was identified as 35-year-old Michael Betz, from Antelope, California.

Betz was cited and released for Exceeding the Posted Speed Limit to wit: 100 mph in a 65 mph zone.

A second contact at 2:18 p.m. by Senior Trooper Campbell led to the arrest of a driver for Reckless Driving and a citation for Exceeding the Posted Speed Limit to wit: 118 mph in a 65 mph zone, when a 2001 BMW was detected northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 147 at 118 miles per hour.

Senior Trooper Campbell identified the driver as 27-year-old Garrett Lacoma, from Kirkland, Washington. There were two passengers in the vehicle. The combination of the high speed and a moderate amount of traffic resulted in his arrest.

Lacoma was booked at Douglas County Jail for Reckless Driving then released and cited to appear in Douglas County Circuit Court on that charge and the mentioned speed violation.

Statistics released in August 2007 by Oregon State Police of 2006 speed-related enforcement statistics reflected what OSP troopers continue to see – driving complaints rising and more drivers cited while traveling at dangerous speeds on freeways and secondary highways.

The review indicated driving complaints have nearly doubled since 2000, and approximately 16% more drivers were cited in 2006 at speeds 100 mph and faster in comparison to 2005.

According to OSP enforcement data, in 2006 OSP troopers issued 537 citations to drivers going 100 mph or faster.

This was an approximate 16% increase in comparison to citations issued during 2005 when 464 citations were issued. Preliminary statistics also indicate OSP troopers cited about 150 more drivers for going 90 – 99 mph.

Data also showed almost 42,000 driving complaints were reported to OSP dispatch centers as the complaints have risen each year since 2000 when over 22,700 complaints were recorded.

With these new enforcement numbers emphasizing the alarming high speeds driven on our highway, statistics also reflected a dramatic jump in the number of cited out-of-state drivers while the number of Oregon licensed drivers stayed nearly the same.

OSP enforcement data shows 285 out-of-state drivers were cited, up from 217 cited in 2005. A total of 252 Oregon licensed drivers were cited in 2006, slightly up from 247 cited Oregon drivers during the previous year.