Tuesday on I-15

Now that it's smooth sailing for the most part on the new surface of I-15, are motorists abusing the privilege of the open road?

If you've driven the freeway the past couple of days, you've probably seen several State Troopers cruising the corridor trying to put the brakes on lead-footed drivers.

News Specialist Jed Boal tells us what's up.

State Troopers want to set a tone for safe driving while people are re-adjusting to the road. Speeders still storm through traffic, but so far, it's not as bad as the Highway Patrol had feared.

State Trooper Brandon Jones says the outrageous speeds of some Utah motorists just don't shock him any more.

During I-15 reconstruction, he says, it really got out of hand.

Trooper Brandon Jones/Utah Highway Patrol: BEFORE THE OPENING ON THE NORTH END, WE WERE GETTING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 85 MILES AN HOUR AS THE NORM. AND I WAS HAVING CARS PASS ME AT 20 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR ON THE SIDES.

While some motorists are still running in the high 70's and 80's, the trooper says most motorists are sticking with the flow of traffic from 65-70 miles per hour.

65 may also be a speed limit more motorists can obey.

Trooper Brandon Jones/Utah Highway Patrol: THE SPEEDS HAVE NOT REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT THEY HAVE STARTED TO REDUCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PUBLIC IS AT EASE OR NOT, BUT THE SPEEDS HAVE COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

The U.H.P. expected the opposite. In recent weeks it shifted more troopers onto I-15, and started to write more tickets.

Sgt. Phillip Waters/Utah Highway Patrol: IT'S LEVEL AND STRAIGHT. WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF VIOLATIONS, PEOPLE USING IT LIKE A RACE TRACK. BUT PEOPLE ARE OBEYING THE LAW AND MINDING THEIR MANNERS A LITTLE BIT AND THAT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED.

While State Troopers also have to get used to the new road, they're starting to feel as though they're regaining control of the road.

Construction made it difficult for troopers to pull people over.

Trooper Brandon Jones/Utah Highway Patrol: THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT. WE HAVE ONE VEHICLE STOPPED, THERE'S ONE OF US.. THERE WAS THOUSANDS OF THEM. THERE WAS JUST NO WAY TO STOP THEM.

State Troopers have also cited motorists for violations in the carpool lane.