The Ohio State Highway Patrol has implemented an innovative strategy to enhance safety on Northeast ohio‘s interstates. By utilizing aircraft for speed enforcement, they are able to keep troopers out of harm’s way while effectively monitoring traffic.
Pilot Milan Milosevic, a 25-year veteran of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, has spent 15 of those years piloting one of the agency’s aircraft. His role involves assisting troopers with various operations, including pursuits, missing-person cases, and speeding enforcement.
Airborne Speed Enforcement: A Safer Approach
Milosevic explains that the aircraft provide a safer alternative for troopers. From the air, they can monitor traffic and ensure drivers adhere to speed limits. “It’s a lot safer. It’s like you have big brother up there watching to make sure, ‘Hey! Slow down. Be careful. I can watch what they’re doing,'” Milosevic said.
The primary use of these aircraft is for speed enforcement. Milosevic emphasizes that catching speeders is the core function of the highway patrol’s airplanes. “The bread and butter of the airplane is to catch violators for speeding,” he stated.
Precision Timing from Above
The Ohio Department of Transportation has established one-mile air zones along Northeast Ohio interstates. Pilots like Milosevic use white lines painted on the roadway to calculate vehicle speeds accurately. “If the vehicle is traveling and the front bumper hits that line, I start a watch,” he said. “I maintain visual on the vehicle that is going through the zone, and when the front bumper hits the next line, I lap my watch. On my watch, it tells me how fast the vehicle is going and how long it took that vehicle to go from point A to point B.”
Once a speeding vehicle is identified, Milosevic relays the information to troopers stationed at entrance ramps below. His role doesn’t end with the initial identification; he continues to monitor the situation. “I hover over the violator and the officer to make sure that the violator doesn’t take off or they get out of their car and run into the woods,” he said.
Effective Results and Community Impact
The program has proven to be effective. On August 18, the patrol used the aircraft in a speeding enforcement operation in the construction zone along Interstate 90 in Lorain County. According to the agency, 28 citations were issued to drivers traveling 21 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
Milosevic flies up to five hours each day when weather permits. He finds every aspect of the job fulfilling, from supporting fellow troopers to helping the public. “It’s safety from above that these officers can count on,” he said. “When you can help other people… the missing kids that we find… then the thanks is more than enough pay than what we receive.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently recruiting pilots and state troopers. This initiative not only enhances road safety but also provides a unique opportunity for those interested in aviation and law enforcement to serve their community.
