Las Vegas, NV (AP) - The number of drivers ticketed in Nevada for putting the pedal to the metal in violation of speed limits continues to climb.
Nevada Office of Traffic Safety data indicates over 5,100 citations were issued in 2021 to drivers going over 100 mph, up from over 3,500 in 2019 and over 4,400 in 2020, local news outlets reported.
“I would say there are definitely hundreds, if not thousands, of more citations of this type (that) would be given out if we are fully staffed,” said trooper Matthew Kaplan, president of the Nevada Police Union. “The ability to be out there enforcing is severely handicapped right now.”
Police believe that a North Las Vegas man was driving a car over 100 mph on a street with a 35 mph limit when he ran a red light and caused a six-vehicle crash that killed nine people, including himself, on Saturday.
High-speed wrecks “are the worst we see as troopers,” Kaplan said.
“There was a time that the public would never drive past the state trooper on the highway, and now there’s just no fear of consequences,” he said.