NHP goes undercover to combat aggressive driving

Sandra Chereb

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 4:47 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - The Nevada Highway Patrol is going incognito to combat aggressive driving on Reno roadways in an attempt to stop such aggression before it turns into violent road rage.

"What we are seeing is a lot of incidents on the highways dealing with aggressive driving," Trooper Tony Almaraz said Wednesday. "This we need to nip."

On Wednesday, the patrol began using an unmarked, white, 1993 Chevrolet equipped with radios and a video camera. The idea is for troopers to blend with traffic as they search for jerks on the freeways.

"We want the vehicle to not look like a patrol car," Almaraz said. "Everybody behaves when they see a cop car.

"We're not out here to be tricky and sneaky," he said. "We're out here to see what's going on."

Troopers assigned to the vehicle will work with other officers in marked patrol units. When aggressive driving is observed, the officer in the unmarked car will videotape the incident and radio troopers in a marked unit, who will make the traffic stop.

The program - dubbed ADAPT for Aggressive Driving Apprehension Program Team - is the first of its kind in Nevada. Almaraz said the patrol hopes to establish a similar program in Las Vegas.

Incidents of road rage are capturing more and more headlines around the country.

Last week, a Minnesota doctor pleaded guilty to assault charges for punching a 69-year-old woman who cut him off on a highway entrance ramp.

In Las Vegas, a 22-year-old woman faces a Nov. 8 trial on felony charges of reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident that killed a California motorcyclist.

Alexis Jill Bodkin is accused of causing the Jan. 28 accident on Interstate 15 south of Las Vegas when, angered by two trucks in both lanes, she allegedly passed the trucks on the right shoulder, swerved in front of them and then slammed on the brakes of her Lexus.

Anthony Scott Wray was killed when his motorcycle ran into the back of one truck after the truck driver slammed on the brakes in response.

Almaraz said there are no statistics on road rage in Nevada, though incidents documented under the new program will give law enforcement a better idea of how big a problem aggressive driving is.

He said the unmarked unit will be used most during morning and evening commuter hours and in congested areas like the Spaghetti Bowl, where U.S. 395 and Interstate 80 interchange.

A new law passed by the 1999 Legislature defines aggressive driving as two or more traffic infractions - such as tailgating, speeding or passing on the right - committed in quick succession. A first offense is a misdemeanor and requires violators to attend a traffic safety course. A second conviction results in a one-year driver's license revocation.