One of the biggest complaints Alamedans voice on a daily basis is traffic problems in the city, especially with all of the road construction taking place around town. But Alameda Police Department (APD) officers are determined to do something about unsafe driving.
As the Alameda Post reported on February 9, APD is conducting a proactive effort to target issues such as impaired driving, unsafe roadway behavior, auto theft, and other community concerns. Unfortunately, APD officers cannot focus solely on traffic enforcement during their shifts, particularly during peak commuting hours, because they are frequently dispatched to calls for service and must conduct investigations.
But that fact didn’t deter a group of dedicated officers who came to work on their day off to conduct a directed traffic enforcement operation, APD reported on Facebook.
“They gave their undivided attention to Alameda roadways during peak commuting hours, with a goal of improving safety for everyone traveling through our city,” APD stated. During this operation, the officers stopped 52 individuals who were engaging in unsafe roadway behaviors, the report stated. Not all were ticketed.
“Some drivers received a citation, but not every encounter results in one,” APD explained in a comment. “Traffic enforcement takes many forms, including presence, citations, warnings, and most importantly, education. This is especially important at locations with new roadway designs/signs/signals.”
Dozens of Alamedans commented on the APD report, mostly to thank the officers and to note areas that need special attention.
“I would like to advocate for ticketing drivers driving unsafely near pedestrians,” one person stated. “It’s scary to walk when people don’t obey the traffic laws or are distracted.”
Speeding was one of the biggest complaints from commenters, with many noting that they wish the citywide 25 mph speed limit would be strictly enforced, as it once was. One person asked, “Is there a way to use technicians for traffic enforcement? Like take the license plate number and mail them a ticket/warning?”
The APD report promised that officers will continue to conduct similar proactive operations in the coming weeks as part of the department’s ongoing commitment to community safety.
