The Twin Cities Police Department Traffic Unit will conduct the second of four "Pedestrian Right-of-Way Enforcement Weeks" beginning May 23rd, 2005. The weeklong selective traffic enforcement campaign is an integral part of our overall traffic safety plan. The campaign will target motorists along the Tamalpais Drive-Magnolia Avenue corridor who do not stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks. The first enforcement week in March netted 56 violators.
Additionally, the Twin Cities Police Department will conduct a three (3) week seat belt enforcement campaign beginning May 16th. The Department will utilize officers on an overtime basis to enforce seat belt and child passenger restraint laws. Motorists not wearing a seat belt, or those that do not have children secured in an approved child safety seat will be issued a citation. Last year during a two hour long seat belt checkpoint, the traffic team warned 81 violators, an incredibly high number of individuals not utilizing this life saving device. The easiest thing to do in order to protect yourself and your family from serious injury or death is to wear your seat belt.
The California Office of Traffic Safety is funding the seat belt enforcement campaign. In addition, OTS has already supplied funding for the DVD Camcorders that officers use to record pedestrian right-of-way violations.
Twin Cities Police Authority
to receive funding from the
California Office of Traffic Safety
The Twin Cities Police Authority will receive $13,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the purchase of a laptop computer and two DVD Camcorders. In addition, with money provided by the grant, the three motor officers will work selected weekends with an enforcement emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian right-of-way violations. The DVD camcorders will be used to record the violations with immediate payback opportunity for the violators utilizing the new laptop computer. The competitive grant titled "Changing Perceptions One Person at a Time" was awarded to the Authority as a result of a concept paper written by Sergeant Mike McDuffee of our Traffic Services Unit. Thus, by integrating recordable media into the enforcement context, the errant party will have an opportunity to learn immediately by witnessing their own driving/riding behavior and will have an opportunity to change their perception with regards to their driving behavior.
The new camcorders and laptop will be purchased in October and will be used immediately in conjunction with our selective enforcement campaigns throughout the communities of Larkspur and Corte Madera.
Most state grant awards come with stipulations-this one is no different. During the next year, the Traffic Services Unit will implement several speed, seat belt enforcement, pedestrian right-of-way, and strict bicycle enforcement campaigns designed to bring awareness to the communities regarding unsafe driving behavior.
The Traffic Services Unit encourages you to use the anonymous tip line to report unsafe driving practices within OUR communities. If you have information regarding someone who habitually speeds, drives reckless, intoxicated, or is driving on a suspended license, call 927-5158.
