SPRINGFIELD - A program designed to catch lazy state transportation workers fielded far fewer citizen complaints last year, prompting officials to suggest that motorists simply aren't seeing a lot of problems on the road.

In 2006, just 265 calls came in on the three-year-old tip line, which was unveiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2003 as a way to monitor the performance of road repair crews.

That compares to 474 calls in 2005 and 737 calls in 2004, the first full year the hotline was in place.

The program was launched in 2003 after former DOT Secretary Tim Martin caught some members of a road crew sleeping in one of the agency's well-known orange trucks.

Martin called on the public to snitch on workers when they see a problem, whether it be sleeping on the job or reckless driving. He outfitted each DOT vehicle with a bumper sticker containing the hot line number 1-800-452-IDOT.

DOT spokesman Matt Vanover said the reduction in calls is likely the result of a combination of factors, including better performance by DOT workers, perhaps because they know the public is watching.

Then again, he said, motorists might not be paying as much attention as they were when the program was first announced.

"Public awareness may have dropped off," Vanover said.

Despite the sharp reduction in calls, the program is yielding results, said Vanover.

"We have had people suspended because of these complaints," he said.

Specific numbers on suspensions or other disciplinary action was not available.

Martin also urged drivers to call the 800 number when they see DOT workers doing something positive.

According to a review of the calls received in 2006, about 70 percent centered on complaints about crew behavior or driving. Just more than 4 percent of the calls were from motorists who were complimentary toward a DOT crew or worker.

In 2005, the numbers show nearly 76 percent of the calls were complaints, while just more than 8 percent were complimentary. In 2004, nearly 68 percent of the calls were critical, while 10 percent were complimentary.

The remainder of the calls focused on reports of road problems, such as potholes or damaged signs.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.