Metro Detroit Police ticket 440 drivers, arrest 9 during 6-hour Operation Ghost Rider
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - This spring, the Michigan State Police and local law enforcement fought distracted driving with Ghost Rider in Macomb and Oakland Counties. We know they stopped mover 500 drivers and arrested nine people in just six hours.
On April 30th, Operation Ghost Rider was initiated by Michigan State Police, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Auburn Hills Police Department, Clinton Township Police Department, Shelby Township Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department and Utica Police Department.
The stats are stunning. According to the Transportation Improvement Association, 49 police officers stopped 530 vehicles, issued 440 tickets and arrested 9 people in 6 hours. All of this took place on the 17 mile stretch of M-59 between I-75 and Romeo Plank.
50 Michigan officers to ride in unmarked cars looking for distracted drivers
Compare these numbers to 2017 when police stopped 907 cars, issued 726 tickets, and arrested 34 people in 18 hours.
According to Transportation Improvement Association (TIA), 72 people were killed and 7,652 were injured in 20,115 distracted driver crashes in 2017.
Police say drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash. Anyone in violation could get a ticket and fines starting around $150.