Not sure about the other states, but the state pigs, I mean state patrol here in Washington State do use the Cessnas to write tickets. They like to show them off on the local news, as if that's going to stop me from going 70 mph on a Saturday morning. Whether they are motivated by a prize or just their own greed is unknown.
Kind of interesting story I read in the Seattle Times though was about a guy who fought a speeding ticket against the State Patrol. His argument (if I remember correctly) was that the the officer set up his speed trap in the median of the freeway. Under Washington State law, officers must follow the same rules of the road as any other citizen, unless it is an emergency situation. Parking in the median is an illegal activity, and since it was not an emergency situation, the man argued that the officer used illegal means to issue to ticket. The judge dismissed the case.
They are also running ads now about operating "night-time seatbelt patrols," give me a break. They should be out arresting DUI drivers.
The Washington State Patrol also seized 250k from a driver who was speeding and didn't explain where the money came from. So they took it.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsourc...+patrol+ticket
If you couldn't tell by now, I don't have much respect, if any, for the Washington State Patrol. The Seattle Police department on the other hand I have much respect for as they actually try to protect the public instead of just raking in revenue from tickets.