(Radio Iowa) — Iowa State Patrol officials reports what they say is an alarming number of motorists being stopped for driving in excess of 100 miles an hour. Public information officer Sergeant Alex Dinkla says troopers have seen a 52-percent increase over a four-year period for speeds of between 135 and 150 miles per hour. Dinkla says the number-one excuse for speeding is…”We didn’t think you guys were out here actually working, out here checking and monitoring traffic,” Dinkla says. “That’s quite the contrary. We have to protect and we have to serve the citizens of the state of Iowa so therefore our troopers are out on the road. We are out watching and trying to make sure people stay safe out on the roads.”

In addition to the high speeds, he says the number of arrests for driving under the influence has also increased. Dinkla says the fines for excessive speed are hefty and can range from 300 to 500 dollars. “The total number of tickets the Iowa State Patrol has issued to motorists going 100 miles an hour or more in the month of March is 103,” he says, “and in the month of April, we had 138 motorists who were cited for going 100 or more miles an hour.”

The patrol estimates traffic volume on the state’s highways and interstates is down about 40-percent due Iowans staying close to home with the pandemic.

(Reporting by Pat Blank, Iowa Public Radio)