DETROIT (WWJ) -- Police have been out looking for speeders in what they say is a particularly dangerous trouble spot: Gratiot Ave. on Detroit's east side.
"A lot of upset drivers; I've heard cursing," WWJ Newsradio 950's Darrylin Horne reported on Tuesday, as officers were on patrol in the area. "Dozens of speeding drivers have been pulled over right here on Gratiot Ave. I have to say minute-by-minute, and that's no exaggeration."
Captain Cedric Dunbar, with the Detroit Police Department's Metropolitan Division, said in recent weeks there have been several crashes on Gratiot in this area because of speeding, some of them fatal.
The purpose of this targeted patrol he said is simple: The DPD wants drivers to slow down in this area.
"Of our traffic enforcement unit which is comprised of about 15 to 20 members out there specifically targeting speeders, just to again drive home that message that that we need to reduce the speed," Dunbar told reporters. "We're looking to change driver behavior, with the ultimate goal of reducing those fatal and critical accidents. Again, last week we had two on Gratiot, and we've been following this all year."
This isn't the only area the DPD traffic enforcement team has been out monitoring this week. Dunbar said there will be others — particularly in area where speeding has led to fatal or critical crashes. So, drivers should be on the lookout.
The speed limit in this targeted area of Gratiot is only 35 miles per hour, and many drivers seem to think that it's 50 mph or more, according to police.
"Speeding tickets can range to $200, so just slow down if you're traveling this way," Horne said.
Police did not immediately release details as to just how many speeding tickets were written during Tuesday's operation.