Operation Hard Hat
Illinois State Police District 15 has ongoing speed enforcement details throughout the Tollway system with an emphasis on work zones to promote safe and responsible driving for the benefit of workers and customers.
“Operation Hard Hat” gives Illinois State Police Troopers (with LIDAR guns) the ability to be in the work zone among construction workers and clock the speed of individual cars driving by. LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) guns use the same principles as radar guns to measure speed, but employ light beams to pinpoint the speed of each targeted vehicle with accuracy.
By radioing a vehicle description ahead to Troopers in squad cars just outside the work zones, State Police then safely pull the speeders over and issue citations. “Operation Hard Hat” details remain effective even after they are complete since drivers know that any construction worker could be a Trooper in disguise with a LIDAR gun.
