The troopers aimed their radar guns from trucks owned by a construction company and were dressed like construction workers, hard hats and all.

This stealthy speed trap was put in place to promote safety for those who work on the side of the road.

Appropriately, this collaboration between the state patrol, Walsh Construction’s road workers, and the Illinois Department of Transportation was dubbed Operation Hard Hat.

“We’re here to help each other out,” Master Sgt. Ron Salier told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of the officers’ connection with road workers. “We are enforcing the law but also educating the motoring public.”

The Post-Dispatch reported that 34 Illinois State Police squad cars stationed on the hard shoulder of highways have been hit already this year.

Operation Hard Hat was in effect during Work-Zone Safety Week to raise awareness about reducing speed in construction zones. It was also meant to remind drivers of Illinois’ ‘Move Over’ law that requires drivers to slow down and, if possible, to move to the far lane when passing police and emergency vehicles pulled over on the road.