Troopers hid in PennDOT trucks as part of ‘Operation Yellow Jacket’ crackdown

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) recently partnered for an enforcement campaign targeting unsafe driving in construction zones.

On May 10, PSP and PennDOT released information on a five week long traffic campaign called “Operation Yellow Jacket” that took place in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania.

As part of the operation, PSP troopers monitored traffic from PennDOT trucks in work zones. When a violation was spotted, a marked PSP unit was deployed to initiate a traffic stop.

Operation Yellow Jacket yielded 136 traffic stops, resulting in 133 citations and 46 warnings.

“Operation Yellow Jacket has been conducted for the last five weeks in Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike, and Susquehanna Countries,” said PSP Troop R Dunmore Patrol Section Commander Lt. Michael Joyce. “Operation Yellow Jacket is a joint initiative between PennDOT and PSP to increase safety within work zones for construction workers and the motoring public. The operations have been run within active PennDOT staffed construction zones on interstates 81, 380, and 84 along with other local state highways. The initiative focuses on speeding, tailgating, and distracted driving behaviors of motorists.” 

“PennDOT appreciates the partnership with the PSP executing Operation Yellow Jacket,” said PennDOT Assistant District 4 Executive for Maintenance Jonathan Eboli. “The presence of troopers in our work zones sets an expectation that all motorists must follow the speed limit and all applicable laws.”