Questions raised about NC work zone enforcement

RALEIGH — There are questions about some of the North Carolina Highway Patrol’s efforts to enforce construction work zones laws.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Monday the Federal Highway Administration provided more than $1.6 million for special patrols in work zones. But the newspaper says some troopers listed work zone enforcement as part of their duty as they drove through zones on the way to and from work.

Doug Hecox with the federal agency says it expects more than what officers do as part of their regular duties.

The newspaper says it found a surge in 15-minute construction zone patrols after a major sent an e-mail last year telling troopers to record all time spent in or traveling through a work
zone. Maj. Gregory Hayes says he didn’t mean for troopers to count the time driving through a zone.

Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)