Zero Tolerance Click It of Ticket Campaign

Click It or Ticket Campaign May 22 - June 4 2017

 Arcadia Police Will Show Zero Tolerance

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacations, The Arcadia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket.  Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep you and your family safe, the national seat belt campaign will take place May 22 through June 4, concurrent with one of the busiest travel and holiday weekends of the year.

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches and the summer vacation season ramps up, The Arcadia Police Department wants to keep our community members safe, and make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash: buckling up. If the campaign wakes up the hundreds of thousands of Californians who still don’t heed the dangers of unrestrained driving and gets them to buckle up, it will be a success.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of the 22,441 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2015 were unrestrained. During nighttime hours, that number soared to 57 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Arcadia, the ticket cost for an adult seat belt violation is $162, with penalties for not restraining a child at $465.

In 2015, 545 Californians where killed because they did not buckle their seat belts according to NHTSA. Nationally, almost twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates, too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2015, more than half (52%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 42 percent were not buckled up.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot         

Successful Distracted Driving Campaign During April

Arcadia Police Department Conducts Successful Distracted Driving Effort

Safety Message Strongly Enforced

During the month of April, motorists caught violating California’s distracted-driving law received a clear message from law enforcement during the high-visibility enforcement campaign.

“Using a hand-held phone for calls, texting or apps while driving is something we all know is dangerous and wrong, but too many drivers are doing it anyway. So when we see it, we show zero tolerance,” said Sergeant Kollin Cieadlo, Arcadia Police Department.

The Arcadia Police Department issued 191 citations to violators of California’s distracted-driving law during the recent enforcement period. The law provides that it is illegal to hold and use a cell phone while texting, calling or using apps while driving. It must be affixed to the vehicle and may be operated in hands free mode using voice activation or used with the motion of a single swipe or tap of the driver’s finger.

“Distracted driving kills too many people for us to ignore the facts and pretend it’s okay—it is never acceptable to text and drive,” said Sergeant Kollin Cieadlo. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,477 people were killed, nationwide, and another 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015.

Offenders caught texting and driving will face tickets totaling at least $162, and higher for a second violation. Though the high-visibility enforcement effort is over, law enforcement officers will continue watching for distracted drivers to make sure all motorists keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Weekly Tip - April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

WORKING TOGETHER TO STOP DISTRACTED DRIVING

April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.  In California, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the Arcadia Police Department, CHP, local law enforcement, and community partners throughout the state are working together to make the roads safer by highlighting the dangers of being distracted while driving, especially by cell phones.

“Law enforcement would rather see everyone off their cell phones than hand out a lot of tickets,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the Office of Traffic Safety.  “Take care of calling, texting, setting your GPS and everything else before you hit the street.”

Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a growing problem among California’s motorists.  Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect on January 1, requiring all drivers in California to keep their cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle.  Under the new law, a driver may activate or deactivate a feature or function of the cell phone or wireless communication device by swiping or tapping its screen only if it is properly mounted or not being held in a driver’s hand. Specific information on the new law can be found at www.ots.ca.gov.

The Office of Traffic Safety will begin a new public awareness campaign throughout the state in April emphasizing how the new law makes virtually all hand-held cell phone activity illegal – talking, texting, and using apps The campaign aims to end distracted driving through education and raise awareness about the associated dangers.  The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April but year-round. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.

The Arcadia Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the state to provide educational experiences as well as zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving.  Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all cell phone and distracted driving laws. The goal is to gain voluntary compliance by drivers, but sometimes citations are necessary for motorists to better understand the importance of driving distraction free.

Throughout the month of April, the Arcadia Police Department will be deploying extra traffic officers, with grant-funded resources, for the purpose of distracted driving enforcement. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first time offenders.  This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This St. Patrick's Day, Plan Before You Party!

Remember: Impaired Driving, Drugs and Alcohol can Kill

St. Patrick’s Day has become one of the nation’s favorite holidays to celebrate and party. Unfortunately, too many people are taking to the roads after drinking, making the holiday one of our most dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 252 people lost their lives in drunk driving-related crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period from 2011-2015. More than a fourth of them were killed in drunk driving crashes that occurred in the early morning, post-party hours (midnight to 5:59 a.m.). 

That’s why the Arcadia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety are teaming up to reach all drivers with an important life-saving message and warning: Don’t Drive Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol.

The Arcadia Police Department will deploy additional officers on special DUI Saturation Patrols to stop and arrest drivers showing signs of alcohol or drug impairment. In addition to this St Patrick’s Day enforcement effort, all police, sheriff and the CHP will be on heightened alert ready to stop and arrest any impaired driver throughout the long weekend.

If you plan to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day, follow these tips to stay safe:

●       Before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, decide whether you’ll drink or you’ll drive. You can’t do both.  “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving”

●       If you’re planning on driving, commit to staying sober. If you’ve been out drinking and then get behind the wheel, you run the risk of causing a crash or getting arrested for a DUI.

●       Drugs such as many prescription medications, marijuana or illicit drugs can also lead to impairment and unsafe driving, leading to a DUI. When mixed with even a small amount of alcohol the affects can be compounded.

●       If you have been drinking, call a taxi or sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. You can download the Designated Driver VIP free mobile app, “DDVIP,” for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

●       Help those around you be responsible, too. Walking while impaired can also be deadly, as lack of attention could put you at risk of getting hit by a vehicle. If someone you know is impaired by alcohol or drugs, do not let them get behind the wheel and help them find a sober ride home. 

This enforcement effort is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone to be alert and ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911’ if you see a dangerous driver call immediately!

Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police

By: Kollin Cieadlo

Traffic Sergeant

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

This Holiday Season, The Arcadia Police Department Is Looking For Drunk Drivers

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

 

This holiday season, The Arcadia Police Department will be out looking for drunk & drugged drivers as part of a special year-end Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.

As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period, police, sheriff and the CHP will be deploying DUI Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols during the upcoming 17-day DUI crackdown throughout the region. The Arcadia Police Department will be conducting a DUI/CDL Checkpoint during the evening hours of December 30, 2016.

Drugs such as prescription medication, marijuana or illicit drugs can impair judgment and get you the same DUI arrest as alcohol.  Nationally in 2014, 32,675 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes with 9,967 people killed in crashes involving an impaired driver.  In California, total highway deaths were reported at 3,126 with 1,155 lives lost in alcohol and/or drug impaired collisions.  If you’re caught driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, you could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

“Driving under the influence is not only costly, but can ruin the holidays for you, your family or for someone else’s family,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Make the decision to drive sober or use our DDVIP app to help you find a safe ride home for yourself or your friends if you know they’ve been drinking.”

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

For more information on the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign and all OTS efforts, visit www.ots.ca.gov. To learn more about the DDVIP app, please visit the OTS Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS or follow OTS on Twitter @OTS_CA.

The Arcadia Police Department wants everyone to have a safe and memorable holiday season, and is calling on everyone to be alert; ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911!

Funding for this holiday enforcement campaign is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

CONTACT:  Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo / 626-574-5475 / kcieadlo@arcadiaca.gov

Airbag Recall! Don't Risk Your Safety!

Certain vehicles, equipped with Takata Airbags are currently being recalled nationwide.

Customers are being urged to go to the NHTSA website; https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/and enter the vehicles Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see if their vehicle is included in this recall.  VIN numbers can also be checked through the OTS website; http://www.ots.ca.gov.  If the vehicle is included, they are to immediately contact their nearest dealer and schedule an appointment to have the vehicle repaired for free.

In particular, if you own a 2001-2003 Honda or Acura vehicle, you are asked to immediately take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for inspection. Even if you don't own this type of vehicle, please visit the SaferCar.gov website and check your vehicle VIN. It will identify other recalls as well.