Video: Police Go Undercover To Keep Roads Safe

Dressed in a T-shirt and shorts while standing in a parking lot at Arlington Heights Road and Route 83, Bruce Montgomery blended in with Thursday afternoon shoppers.

But Montgomery wasn’t a customer. He was an undercover officer keeping an eye out for traffic violations.

The police department’s latest enforcement effort targeted northbound drivers making left turns onto Route 83. When Montgomery spotted a car that failed to make the turn before the signal turned red, he radioed a fellow officer, who conducted a traffic stop and issued a ticket.

Five drivers received $120 tickets Thursday afternoon for proceeding into the intersection after the light turned red.

“People are in a hurry to get home or wherever they’re going. They are trying so hard to get through that light, they are willing to risk everything,” said Montgomery, who noted that 676 people were killed in the U.S. last year in crashes that involved red light violations.

Police find that going undercover, with uniforms and police cars out of sight, helps them catch violators.

“Sitting out here is pretty effective because no one is looking for me. You put one squad car out there and everyone stops,” he said.

Montgomery said officers typically issue 14 tickets during a two-hour enforcement effort. Officers issued seven tickets during a Tuesday morning enforcement. Thursday afternoon’s five tickets were written between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“I’m happy,” he said, while monitoring northbound traffic Thursday on Arlington Heights Road. “We’re seeing a lot more compliance.”

Montgomery said sometimes the department publicizes the enforcement efforts in advance, while others are kept quiet. The department issued a press release about this week's effort, but did not announce the day, time or location of the operation.

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“It’s not necessarily about trying to trap people,” Montgomery responded. “It’s about education. Are people changing their behavior because you published it? Yes. Do I care? No, because people are slowing down. That’s what we want.”

“It all boils down to safety,” he said.

He said officers will likely conduct another special enforcement elsewhere in the village next week.