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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
During
the past several years, financial concerns have forced a reduction in
the number of law enforcement officers available for traffic enforcement
in the City of Upland, California. As a result, motorists' compliance
with occupant protection laws has decreased substantially. In 1996,
for example, 25 percent of motorists receiving citations for traffic
violations were not wearing safety belts.
The number
of citations issued to unlicensed drivers and those with a suspended
or revoked license also decreased, from 811 in 1995, to 480 in 1996.
Concerned with these disturbing trends, the Upland Police Department
developed a coordinated plan to improve traffic safety citywide.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Upland
Police Department Occupant Protection/Vehicle Impound program was established
in 1998 to reduce fatal and injury motor vehicle crashes throughout
the City of Upland. Specific objectives of the program were to:
- Decrease
fatal traffic crashes from 5 in 1995, to 4 by March 1999, and to 3
by March 2000
- Reduce
the total number of hit and run crashes from 247 in 1996, to 234 by
March 1999, and to 222 by March 2000
- Increase
public awareness through media spots, safety presentations and high-visibility
traffic enforcement, including checkpoints
- Develop
and implement a child safety seat checkup and distribution program,
conducting at least four highly publicized checkup events, and distributing
40 or more child safety seats to low income families
- Initiate
a free-of-charge or low cost bicycle helmet distribution program,
distributing 100 or more helmets to school-aged children
- Increase
the number of unlicensed/suspended/revoked vehicles impounded for
30 days from 1,109 in 1996, to 1,219 by March 1999, and to 1,340 by
March 2000
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In
1998, the Upland Police Department received a 2-year grant from the
California Office of Traffic Safety to develop and implement the Occupant
Protection/Vehicle Impound program. An officer with demonstrated proficiency
in apprehending and impounding the vehicles of motorists found to be
driving on a suspended or revoked license, was assigned to conduct one
impaired driving and driver's license checkpoint each month. Saturation
patrols were also conducted, involving surrounding law enforcement agencies.
Administrative fees collected from violators were used to pay overtime
salaries for officers, and a part-time records clerk to assist in processing
the additional paperwork generated from the program.
The Upland
Police Department created and maintained a storage lot for impounded
vehicles, adjacent to the police station. The lot generated $1,300,000
in impound fees during a two-year period. Although the majority of these
fees were used to pay towing and lien sale companies, more than $189,700
was used to create a Traffic Offender Fund, to help pay the salaries
of the records clerk and vehicle impound officer.
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