ADOT Halts Using DPS Officers at Work Zones

Beginning November 17, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) no longer will be hiring off-duty state Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers and their vehicles for providing safety and protection for employees in work zones due to an increase of officers’ hourly rate to three times more than their current rate. In construction zones, hired DPS officers often park their cruisers and turn on their flashing lights as a visual reminder to motorists to slow down. They also control traffic and protect closed ramps and roads. But they are not required to be in work zones per national safety standards. ADOT now is developing a new policy that will determine in which situations officers should be hired. And once that policy is in place, ADOT will look to law enforcement agencies other than DPS to provide manpower.