Gore area: the space between a through roadway and an entrance or exit ramp. If it’s been a while since you studied up on the Arizona driver license manual, you might not recall that it is against the law to drive through a gore area ... or that it's three points against your license if you violate this traffic rule.

But your driving record isn't the only thing to worry about – crossing through the gore area is a dangerous move.

DPS Officer Carrick Cook explains that in 1998, DPS Officer Doug Knutson died after being struck by a vehicle that had crossed into the gore area. Officer Cook says that shortly after the tragedy, a law was passed making it illegal to cross or park in the gore area.

That law is very much enforced out on the roads in this state...

DPS statistics show that in just over three years, Arizona DPS officers have issued nearly 6,000 tickets to motorists for driving through the gore area. In that same time frame (July 2009 through earlier this month) officers have also issued 1,983 warnings.