New Milwaukee Traffic Safety Plan Includes Bait Cars, Anti-Theft Decal

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee police plan on combatting reckless driving with bait cars, a partnership with the state patrol, and decals that make it easier for police to pull a car over, the department announced in a news release Thursday.

The city has seen a recent increase in reckless driving and stolen vehicles, police said. Surrounding communities have not been immune from the spate of stolen vehicles either. Many of the thefts have focused on Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Altogether, police said the situation has led to an increase in fatal crashes and a sense of fear on the part of law-abiding citizens using our roads.

Part of the program will have squads from the Wisconsin State Patrol as a "force multiplier" to improve enforcement efforts. State patrol will deploy alongside Milwaukee's Traffic Safety Unit once per week until the start of September within a targeted area that was determined through complaints, crash data and aldermanic requests.

State patrol officers helping with traffic safety will help Milwaukee police to focus on community safety, said WSP Superintendent Tim Carnahan in the news release.

Police said they will also deploy at least one bait car. If someone tries to steal the car, police will be able to safely and remotely disable it, police said. Nearby officers will then arrest the person. At least one of the vehicles being used for bait cars is a KIA or a Hyundai, police said.

Another part of the program is called "Combat Auto Theft."

People will be able to place a decal from police on their car, which would then allow officers to stop the vehicle at any point between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Police need no reason to stop the vehicle other than if the decal is displayed.

The decal program is voluntary, and police said it would give officers the edge in apprehending stolen cars. You can register your vehicle for the program at local police stations.

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