HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
ACTING SERGEANT MARTIN B. ELLAZAR
PHONE: 961-2332
MARCH 22, 1999
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police recently received a portable Speed Monitoring Awareness Radar Trailer, or SMART, which shows drivers exactly how fast they are going and what the speed limit is.
The police department already has four speed boards, which do essentially the same thing. What makes SMART stand apart is the display, which is larger than that of the other four speed boards and can’t be missed by drivers.
Developed specifically for law enforcement, the trailer system can be set up in less than 10 minutes.
Like the speed boards, the SMART system is being shared by Patrol, Traffic Enforcement and Community Policing units throughout the island to educate motorists and to encourage voluntary compliance with speed limits, especially in traffic problem areas.
Community and business groups have reported that the speed boards are highly effective in getting motorists to slow down in their communities.
Speed boards across the nation have received recognition for getting motorists to slow down by reminding them of the speed they are traveling.
Acting Sergeant Martin Ellazar, head of the Traffic Enforcement Unit, said: “If the SMART system or speed board slows down even one motorist and saves a single life prevents a major injury, the money and time we’ve put into this project are worth it.”
Ellazar said community and business groups wanting to make use of the speed boards in their communities should call the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2305 or contact the Community Policing officer in their community.
Big Island police were the first in the state to make use of the radar speed boards.
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