COLLINSVILLE, IL – The Illinois State Police has set up a Motorcycle Enforcement Bureau to beef up its small motorcycle force, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Their goal is to reduce fatalities. The police will ride Harley-Davidsons, which can reach a speed of 114 mph, allowing officers to get to crash scenes more quickly than squad cars because of their ability to maneuver through traffic. Another benefit of operating small motorcycles is cost. Operating a motorcycle costs roughly 14 cents a mile, compared with 52 cents for a squad car, the report said. The cost of leasing each motorcycle is $1,963 a year, including maintenance. A $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety pays for the motorcycles and specialized equipment. Statewide, 42 troopers in six platoons have completed training to become certified to use motorcycles. Officers will target speeding, improper lane use, following too closely, driving drunk, and not wearing seat belts.