Did you notice more red and blue lights flashing on State Route 347 last week? 

If so, you’re not the only one. Maricopa’s traffic pages on social media lit up Wednesday morning with a mixture of comments thanking law enforcement for saturation patrols and complaining they were “absolutely clogging up the 347 handing out tickets” during rush hour. 

The following day, the Arizona Highway Patrol posted that they took part in a multi-agency traffic enforcement detail on four interstates and state highways, including SR 347. 

The operation netted 115 traffic stops — most of them on Maricopa’s most cursed-at highway — as well as 106 citations and four arrests. 

Why? They were on the lookout for collision-causing violations during a time of the week known for crashes. 

Maricopa Police Department took part in the “multi-agency operation aimed at curtailing speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors,” confirmed Chief Mark Goodman.  

“It is our hope that these types of operations, along with consistent agency collaboration, will assist in reducing collisions and injuries on SR 347 and the surrounding area,” he told InMaricopa today. 

In total, 15 officers and state troopers from MPD, DPS, Gila River Police Department and Pinal County Sheriff’s Office made 57 traffic stops on SR 347 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on July 30. 

That six-hour detail resulted in 55 citations, including five for criminal speeding, 18 for civil speeding, one for a distracted driver and 31 unspecified citations.  

GRPD arrested one person who “drove through the right-of-way fence and then fled on foot” after they were initially stopped by state troopers.  

It’s the most recent traffic-enforcement sting on the highway. In May, Highway Patrol bragged they arrested three speed demons as part of their “zero-tolerance enforcement details.” 

That dragnet saw the captures of Gustavo Pelayo Ramos, who was clocked flying 104 miles per hour, and Debraunist St. Claire Richean Fox-Flimmingez, who was charged with reckless speeding at 100 miles per hour.  

Keep a lookout because this isn’t the last time drivers will be seeing extra patrol cars on the highway. 

“We will continue to seek partnership opportunities like this to reduce collisions through enforcement and deterrence,” said Highway Patrol spokesperson Raul Garcia.