It's called the industrial infrared thermometer. It looks like a radar gun, except patrol officers aren't checking for speed -- they're checking brakes.

Between the 3,000 big rigs a day and their 80,000 pound loads, the Washington State Patrol tries to inspect each and every one starting with the brakes and hubs using an infrared thermometer gun.

Officers gage the temperature, and if it reads over 120 degrees, then there's a problem.

A wheel can come off and can kill, maim or injure, police say.

That's exactly what happened along I-5 near Seattle in May of last year.

Two heavy dual tires came off a semi and sailed across the media before crashing into a van and killing passenger John Ellis.

"He shouldn't have died. He was 31," said Ellis' wife.

The victim left behind his wife and newborn baby. The State Patrol says if the semi was inspected, the crash would likely never have happened.

In another case, officers were at the port of entry from Canada along I-5. This time, patrol officers uncovered a 200 degree heat reading in the front bearing of a truck carrying steel plates.

The brakes were adjusted too tight and the semi was taken off the road until it was fixed.

Within three days of inspections, the State Patrol found eight unsafe trucks using the thermometer.

Eight unsafe trucks with dangerous brakes that state officers say could have cost someone's life.

The infared thermometer costs around $80. Right now, the Washington State Patrol is only testing the product but they hope to have more of them on duty by summer's end.