Highway patrol

A highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.

Duties of highway patrols or traffic police may include the following:

Argentina

In Argentina, traffic policing is the responsibility of the Argentine National Gendarmerie.

Australia

In Australia, traffic policing is the responsibility of the state police forces. Each force has its own traffic sections, often a local section in each area and a statewide section.

Highway Police (Colombia)

The Highway Police (Spanish: Policía de Carreteras) is the main body enforcing road regulations in Colombia to control land transportation and traffic, prevention of accidentality and crimes, similar to a highway patrol but with a nationwide area of operations.

History

During the presidency of Miguel Abadía Méndez in 1929 by Decree 847 the Colombian National Police is adjudicated with the creation of a body to be in charge of roads and highways. In 1936 by Decree 1715 the Highway Police or Policia Vial is established to watch over railways, Aerial tramways, watercrafts, highways and streets with the main function of enforcing transit, transportation and motorvehicle laws.

On October 25, by Decree 2816 of 1955 the National Police designs and implements the Unidades de Intervención y Reacción or Intervention and Reaction Units (UNIR), a strategy focused on combating terrorism and delinquency on highways. On January 19, 1999, the organizational structure is defined and put under the management of the Operative Directorate of the National Police.