Casper area law enforcement officers stopped 77 cars and handed out 59 tickets during the latest traffic enforcement operation, according to figures released Friday.

Officers issued 31 speeding tickets and made two arrests for driving under the influence during the operation, which took place July 10.

Five local law enforcement agencies have been participating in the Combined Accident Reduction and Traffic Enforcement program since April in order to reduce crashes in Natrona County. Since the program began, officers have made 663 stops, issued 520 tickets, including 270 for speeding, according to figures provided by the agencies.

"Folks are just not paying attention to their speed at all," said Evansville Police Chief Zachary Gentile.

There hasn't been an observable decline in speeding yet, he added, but the agencies plan to continue the CARTE effort.

"We are still committed to it," he said.

In addition to Evansville police, the Casper and Mills police departments, Natrona County Sheriff's Office and Wyoming Highway Patrol are participating in the traffic enforcement operations. During the operations, seven to 10 officers focus exclusively on traffic violations, from speeding to seat belt usage to drunken driving.

The program has averaged nearly 95 stops each traffic enforcement day, Wyoming Department of Transportation spokesman Jim Nations said.

Mills police Lt. Phil Crouch predicts that driver behavior will eventually change as word continues to spread about local law enforcement's focus on traffic violations.

"I think in the long run it will make a difference," he said.

Authorities plan to conduct another CARTE operation this month.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@casperstartribune.net.