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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.06 State Traffic Safety Grant J qa-9 d CITY OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: April 13,1987 • SUBJECT STATE OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT EXHIBITS ATTACHED Grant Application RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends council concurrence on submittal of grant application. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Office of Traffic Safety will fund 100% of the program; City would incur on-going maintenance costs of equipment in future years. DESCRIPTION The traffic safety programs submitted for grant consideration are twofold. The first program provides for the use of video equipment when processing those individuals suspected of driving while intoxicated. This manner of handling arrested persons has proven to be a most effective law enforcement tool that has ensured both a high conviction rate and decreased prosecution costs. The second program provides for the funding to acquire three (3 ) radar units for use by Dublin Police. The program objective is to decrease accidents, particularly those caused by unsafe speed. Approval by the Office of Traffic Safety does not commit the City to go through with the programs, nor preclude amendments to the program, if deemed necessary. • COPIES TO: ITEM NO. /446 , ".:,,:k... e.Fz . i.....:_v.... -2.r, _ a.:L'.Z' '.�.?k °„„.: ,4 i' t y .sz, "T +h F -t. 7r. ._. .,... .`M§R {� �?�' .'-�;E-;.�F'�S°, °�--�,'-°s.:.. �?"�'_i�+. r.:�T!:-.:•F _ ... • • CITY OF DUBLIN POLICE SERVICES: - MEMORANDUM PROPOSAL FOR THE 1986/87 HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN • DRIVING' UNDER 'THE INFLUENCE (DRUNK DRIVER) ENFORCEMENT - Statement -of Problem Currently, the City of Dublin does not have a specific unit . responsible- for driving under the influence enforcement/investi- gation. This' responsibility rests with the individual patrol/beat officer. - • Statistics from 1985 to 1986, show an increase of 16% for total drunk .driving' arrests. Arrests for male adults are up 7% over last year, and arrests for female adults are up 58% over last year. Juvenile arrests for DUI offenses have additionally increased. Accidents , . caused by DUI offenders have increased 55% over last. year. Our police department has proposed budgetary increases for this fiscal year to allow additional manpower for specific DUI • enforcement. ' This would not be an additional unit but would allow the hiring of overtime manpower on an "as needed" basis, to supplement the patrol force during peak. DUI enforcement time periods ( specifically weekends and .holidays) . • During the past year, our department. has encountered :an increasing • number of drunk driving arrests not being charged by our District Attorney' s office. These cases not . being charged are usually the arrests involving -a refusal, where the, person arrested refuses to take a chemical test. The reason most often given by the District Attorney' s office for not filing these .cases is lack of sufficient evidence. Basically, if the person refuses to take a test, we lack sufficient evidence to obtain a. criminal complaint. • Since we anticipate an. increase in the number of arrests for DUI offenses, we need a means of obtaining additional evidence. to secure a criminal complaint. . OBJECTIVE In order to. assist officers in preparing better cases, our department would like to purchase a video recording camera which can be. -used by , officers in -the field. Following a vehicle stop as a suspected drunk driver, the field sobriety tests, suspects actions and coordination • • • • • • Office of Traffic Safety April 2, 1987 Page Two OBJECTIVE (cont'd) tests can be video taped. Since "a picture is worth a thousand words", this video recording would be very useful and convincing evidence in court. Using this evidence will enable our officers to increase the number of criminal complaints for DUI offenses, and provide a more satisfactory program. TIME REQUIRED • This program would be an ongoing, continuous program. The funding needed would be to get the initial program off the ground and would be kept going in the future by City funds. COST ESTIMATE Costs for the first year would be as follows: $1 ,500.00 Purchase video camera 450.00 Repair and maintenance - • : 1 ,825 .00 Purchase video. tapes (it is - anticipated that 365 tapes will be needed for one year) : (365 x $5. 00 = $1 ,825. ) ' Estimated total cost for this program would be . $3,775. 00. " • CITY OF DUBLIN POLICE SERVICES MEMORANDUM PROPOSAL FOR THE 1986/87 HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN UNSAFE SPEED ENFORCEMENT/ACCIDENT PREVENTION Statement of Problem The City of Dublin presently has only one officer assigned to traffic enforcement duties (Division 10 and 11 of the California Vehicle. Code) . This places additional responsibilities on patrol officers. to handle traffic enforcement duties during the time periods the traffic officer is off duty. Dublin Police Services does not have any radar equipment at this time. In 1982, the City of Dublin had a reported number of 170 automobile ' collisions. Of these, 34 were injury accidents, where 51 people were injured. In 1983, the City had a reported number of 335 traffic collisions, of these, 84 were injury accidents where 91 people were injured. In 1984, the City had 382 collisions, 81 of these being injury accidents. Of these injury accidents 115 people were injured, one fatally. In 1985, the City had 413 collisions, 86 of these accidents being . injury accidents where 104 people were injured. 1986 showed a 12% increase in automobile collisions over 1985. 1986 showed a 100% increase in traffic fatalities over 1985. Drunk driver related collisions were up 55%. OBJECTIVES The City of Dublin presently has one, full-time traffic officer. Budgetary funding precluded the purchase of radar/speed enforcement equipment for this unit,. These restrictions additionally precluded the purchase of radar/speed enforcement equipment for other patrol personnel. In an effort to decrease accidents in Dublin, particularly those caused by unsafe speed, an all out speed enforcement effort is needed. • a Office of Traffic Safety , April 2, 1987 Page Four SOLUTION The solution to the increasing accident problem within Dublin would be one of increased enforcement. It is proposed that monies be provided for the purchase of radar equipment for the police department. A moving/stationary radar unit should be purchased for the traffic unit, and two hand-held stationary radar unit should be purchased for patrol personnel. This would enable the police to better enforce traffic related problems city wide and on- a more continual basis. TIME REQUIRED There would not be any time estimates or limits on this program. The City has already committed itself to one full-time traffic unit, and it is anticipated with increased citation statistics another position would be budgeted for. COST ESTIMATE Costs of this program would be for equipment funding only. The City would agree to. maintain and repair the equipment as needed. Costs for the first year would be as follows: $2,500.00 Purchase one MPH, Dual antenna moving/stationary radar unit 2,000.00 Purchase two hand-held MPH K-15 radar units (see attached estimates) Estimated total cost for this program $4,500.00 TOTAL HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN MONIES REQUESTED: $8,275.00 •