For Immediate Release: Friday, April 17, 2015

Contact: Tony Mangan, Department of Public Safety, 605-773-6196

New Highway Patrol motorcycles to help with DUI enforcement

PIERRE, SD -- Thanks to a federal grant, South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers will begin using motorcycles for the first time in 30 years.

Three new 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycles were unveiled Friday in front of the state Capitol. They are now operational.

Colonel Craig Price, superintendent of the state Highway Patrol, said funding for the program comes from a federal grant through the state Office of Highway Safety. He said the primary use for the motorcycles, as stated in the grant application, will be for DUI enforcement.

"Troopers on motorcycles are able to respond faster to calls due to their ability to maneuver through all types of traffic,” Price said. “The motorcycles will allow troopers to stop suspected impaired drivers in traffic that they would not normally be able to reach if driving a conventional patrol car or SUV."

Six troopers underwent two weeks of motorcycle training at the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy. The motorcycles will be assigned to Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls. They also will be used throughout the state including at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.

The motorcycles were purchased from J&L Harley Davidson in Sioux Falls, which was selected after a competitive bid process.

This is not the first time the Highway Patrol has had motorcycles in its fleet. Motorcycles were used in different capacities throughout the history of the agency until 1985 when the program was discontinued.

“The motorcycles give the Highway Patrol another resource in helping keep people safe especially in the area of DUI enforcement, “ Price said.

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