HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT A member of the Highway Patrol’s "Motor Squad" waits for speeders during the group’s intense coverage of Routes 160 and 372 Monday. Amazingly, at least one vehicle sped up upon seeing the officer and his radar gun. Advertisement

The Nevada Highway Patrol's new "Motor Squad" rolled into Pahrump Monday morning and found a wealth of activity among motorists who were speeding, blowing past stop signs and otherwise violating the rules of the road.

Sgt. Charlie Lee and his four troopers kept busy with radar guns and flashing lights as they maneuvered their Harley-Davidson machines along Route 160 and other heavily traveled roadways.

"I've been here an hour," said Trooper Kevin Honea, the Southern Command's public information officer, around noon, "and I'd say there have been about 12 to 15 stops."

He added that from his position between Terrible's Town Casino and Postal Road, he had witnessed a number of drivers pass through stop signs "right into traffic. People have to slow down."

Some people just didn't seem to catch on.

One car, approaching an officer who was clearly aiming a radar gun at oncoming traffic, seemed to speed up well beyond the 35 mph limit. The officer apparently called on a passing Highway Patrol cruiser to join in the exercise; moments later the car was pulled over on Calvada Boulevard.

One local sheriff's cruiser was made available to the uniformed bikers in the event any individuals needed to be transported to the detention center, but at midday Honea said it had not been used.

By the time the squad pulled out, after spending about three hours in town, a total of 54 citations had been issued 14 for hazardous moving violations, 28 for speed, 14 for seatbelt violations and 11 miscellaneous. Honea said no more serious problems were noted, "no DUIs, no arrests."

The squad, which was formed only last month as a special enforcement team for the RATE program -- Reducing Accidents Through Enforcement -- began work at the intersection of Highways 160 and 372 and spread out from there.

Honea said the Southern Command's goal is to eventually increase the squad from a sergeant and four men to two six-member squads or one eight-member squad.

Also viewing the exercise was Lt. Wayne Wick, Southern Command's "rural lieutenant" who oversees operations in such areas as the Pahrump Valley and Primm.

Honea said the RATE program has focused on several, what he called high-volume "crash corridors" in Las Vegas, and the results have been noteworthy.