In a controversial measure driven by state budget cuts, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers are now limited to driving 100 miles per day in regular patrol operations. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael C. Thompson called the cuts “difficult but necessary in order for DPS to make it through fiscal year 2017.”
Depending on their assigned beat and call volume, troopers can drive upwards of 200 miles per shift. While troopers will still respond to emergency calls, that response time could increase, says Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chief Ricky Adams.
Troopers won’t be disciplined for exceeding the mileage restriction due to incident responses, though they may be expected to lower their driving in the following days to maintain a weekly limit.
What will troopers be doing instead of patrolling? Expect to see them running radar more often, which will limit their ability to see other infractions. When officers are moving, they’re more likely to see a car weaving in traffic, or otherwise driving unsafely. Drivers often can’t see the patrol car a half-mile behind them. But troopers are trained to notice the signs that a driver might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or texting while driving, and those signs are more visible when the trooper is mobile.
The budget cuts include a limit on flight hours for the OHP aircraft fleet, limited dispatching operations during night hours, a voluntary buyout option for some employees, and a hold on the next recruiting class. The latter will stretch an already understaffed agency even further.
The agency is also postponing a needed upgrade to its radio system.
Thompson said he believed that troopers had been limited in their patrol mileage before, but that this was “still a pretty big deal.” He had said in August that the department was considering 23-day furloughs for all employees, but now believes those will not be necessary.
The budget cuts are the result of a loss of over $1.3 billion in funding, lost due to tax cuts, depressed energy costs, and a failure to reduce tax credits and incentives given to generate economic activity. The state is expected to fall short nearly $700 million in the 2018 fiscal year budget as well.
The actual loss to the Department of Public Safety was 11.3% from its 2016 budget, or $89 million.
A Tulsa World editorial sharply criticized Thompson for the cuts as well as the legislature for failing to properly fund the department, but offered no suggestions for improving the situation.
Thompson said he’s optimistic that the state legislature will address budget in the coming session. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kim David, R-Porter, said lawmakers will prioritize agency funding.
The Tulsa Beat 