Nine arrests were made for offenses including excessive speeding, racing on highways, reckless driving and driving with a revoked license due to a prior drunken-driving conviction.

"It went well," said Lt. Bobby Hill, commander of the police Traffic Section. "The officers did a lot of work."

Of the 482 citations issued as part of the Operation SPEED campaign from Monday through Wednesday, 459 were for speeding, Hill said. The average speeds of the ticketed drivers ranged from 48 mph in a 30-mph zone on Honoapiilani Highway to 70 mph in a 55-mph zone on Hana Highway, according to police.

One driver was clocked at 103 mph in a 45-mph portion of Mokulele Highway, where Lahaina patrol Sgt. Ricky Uedoi and traffic officer Lawrence Becraft saw two pickup trucks racing toward Kahului at 4:35 p.m. Wednesday, said Capt. Jeffrey Tanoue.

He said both trucks were seen weaving in and out of traffic and speeding to overtake vehicles on the shoulder of the highway. While one truck sped away, police stopped the other truck, arresting 19-year-old Mark Baloran of Kahului. He was charged with excessive speeding, racing on highways and reckless driving, with his bail set at $700.

"The drivers of the trucks had absolutely no regard for the safety and welfare of other motorists traveling on the roadway at that time," Tanoue said. "Innocent people could have been seriously injured or killed because of this senseless act.

"It was fortunate that Sgt. Uedoi and Officer Becraft were at the right location at the right time."

Both trucks were approaching the heavily traveled portion of Mokulele Highway near Hookele Street, which leads to the Wal-Mart area.

The fine for speeding is $5 per mile over the speed limit plus $57 in fees.

But under a law that took effect this year, drivers who are clocked traveling at least 80 mph and those traveling at least 30 mph over the speed limit can be charged with excessive speeding. Those convicted of the petty misdemeanor crime face potential jail time, higher fines and license suspensions.

Another excessive speeding arrest was made at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, when traffic officer Duke Pua stopped a 25-year-old Haiku woman driving 78 mph in a 45-mph zone on Kuihelani Highway near Waiko Road. The woman, who was also arrested on a contempt-of-court warrant, was released after posting bail.

In addition to the speeding citations, officers issued nine citations for not having insurance, three for driving with a suspended or revoked license, five for driving without a license, two for not having a license with them and one citation each for illegal window tint, following too closely, disregarding a stop sign and expired safety check, Hill said.

Other high speeds ticketed included 77 mph in a 45-mph zone on Honoapiilani Highway and 53 mph in a 35-mph zone on Piilani Highway, Hill said.

Over the course of the three days, the largest number of speeding tickets given was 136 in a 45-mph zone on Kuihelani Highway, where the average speed was 67 mph. That was followed by 91 speeding tickets issued in a 45-mph zone on Mokulele Highway, where the average speed was 60 mph. In a 40-mph zone on Piilani Highway, 89 speeding tickets were handed out, with ticketed motorists traveling an average of 60 mph.

Tanoue, who developed Operation SPEED in 2005 when he was commander of the police Traffic Section, planned and spearheaded the latest three-day effort. Traffic officers were assisted by Lahaina, Kihei and Wailuku patrol officers in carrying out the enforcement, Hill said.

On Thursday, police noticed the difference on the road.

"The speeds have calmed down on the highways," said Capt. Charles Hirata, commander of the Lahaina Patrol District.

He gave out five excessive-speeding citations, most on Honoapiilani Highway, the first day of enforcement before noticing that drivers began slowing down.

"We constantly give speeding tickets, but this is more of a directed enforcement," Hirata said. "Because of the high intensity, it gives a lot of education. We're not stopping the vast majority of people, but it appears over the three days the speeds have come down considerably."

Tanoue said he realizes the aftereffects of this operation are only temporary and such enforcement must be done more frequently to produce noticeable and measurable results.

He emphasized that traffic enforcement is done every day in all police districts and not only during special operations, as some people may believe.

"We do realize the seriousness of vehicles speeding on our roadways and the danger it poses to other motorists, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists," Tanoue said.

In his new assignment as commander of the Kihei Patrol District, Tanoue said one of his main focuses will be on traffic safety, especially on Piilani Highway.

Hill said traffic officers would do selective enforcement in various areas in the weeks ahead.

Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.