The Mission of the Highway Patrol Section is to reduce property damage, injuries, and deaths caused by traffic crashes in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Preventative patrols, proactive enforcement, community education, analysis of traffic crash data, investigation of traffic crashes, and active problem solving are used to accomplish this mission.

The Highway Patrol Section is divided into three (3) units. Traffic Enforcement, Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I.) Enforcement and Traffic Crash Investigation Unit (T.C.I.U.). The units are dedicated to promoting and improving traffic safety through education, analysis, and enforcement. We do this with community, government partnerships and relative police traffic services. These units are all part of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs (S.T.E.P.)

Highway Patrol’s Goals and Objectives:

• To promote traffic safety through education and enforcement means.
• To identify high crash areas, analyze data, and apply problem-solving techniques in the resolution of traffic problems.
• To enhance traffic safety in the CNMI by reducing both the frequency and severity of traffic crashes.
• To aggressively investigate citizen complaints and enforce all applicable traffic laws and regulations.
• To vigorously pursue the investigation of any and all illegal activities detected as a result of traffic stops.
• To act as representatives of the Department through public appearances at special functions and events.
• To represent the Department as public speakers and instructors, when requested.
• To increase enforcement efforts on impaired drivers
• To improve the safe transportation of passengers and moving vehicles on our highways.

The units address the Highway Patrol Section’s goals and objectives with traditional traffic safety events including but not limited to:

• Speed Enforcement Activities
• Highway Criminal Interdictions (Hi-Ci) / High & Low Visibility Enforcement
• Car Seat/Seat Belt Checkpoints
• Sobriety Checkpoints
• Child Passenger Safety Programs
• Participation in National Traffic Safety Programs
  -Lifesavers Conference
  -Kids In Motion (K.I.M) Conference
  -Pedestrian Safety Program
  -Motorcycle Safety Program
  -Roadway Safety Program
• Traffic Safety Proclamations
• Traffic Safety Programs (Drivers Education)
• Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.)
• Covert Operation

In addition, Highway Patrol personnel analyze traffic crash data to identify problem corridors and solutions by working with the Department of Public Work’s Traffic Safety Division (Engineering). Highway Patrol personnel also respond and answer to citizen concerns related to any traffic or criminal matters.

For any traffic related questions or scheduling of traffic safety presentations, please call 664-9084/664-9085

S.T.E.P. / Traffic Enforcement Unit

The S.T.E.P Traffic Enforcement Unit’s primary responsibility is to enforce traffic laws and promote the safe flow of traffic on our highways and roadways. They handle crashes, direct traffic, assist in escorting dignitaries, assist in fatal and critical accident investigations and other duties assigned.

The main responsibility of the D.U.I. Unit is to conduct D.U.I. patrols and traffic enforcement activities in an effort to create safer highways and roadways. Personnel are tasked at reducing alcohol-related traffic fatalities, injuries and property damage by aggressively enforcing CNMI Traffic laws during the evening and early morning hours. These personnel are especially trained to detect and apprehend impaired drivers on our highways and roadways.

Traffic Crash Investigation Unit (T.C.I.U.) 

T.C.I.U. Officers are especially trained investigators in traffic accident reconstruction and investigation. These officers have taken numerous crash investigation trainings conducted by the Institute of Police Technology Management (IPTM). T.C.I.U Officers are called to the scene of all serious and fatal traffic accidents.

For traffic accident investigators, the moments immediately following the motor vehicle crash are crucial. Officers must work quickly and confidently to preserve significant physical evidence from the crash scene before it is altered or disappears. Officers must also anticipate what information will be needed for enforcing traffic laws, planning crash prevention and litigating crash cases. In addition, they must properly document the data for these various uses because once the scene is cleared, this data may never be recovered.

Officers reconstruct the scene of a traffic accident to determine how the accident occurred. Describing the events of the accident, in more or less detail is the goal of the T.C.I.U. Officers collect information about the crash and analyze the information that has already been collected.