In an effort to improve traffic accident rates, Lt. Badel stated that the department applied for an OTS grant and made internal changes in the traffic unit. Motor officers were assigned strictly to enforcement and handled only injury collisions. A fourth motor officer was added to the department. As a result, in 1999 Lodi’s ranking out of 88 agencies improved to 5^th for fatal and injury collisions and 17^th for nighttime collisions. A bicycle citation diversion program was also added, which consists of a two-hour class for first-time offenders under the age of fifteen. The department’s goal with the OTS grant was to reduce the 1999 rankings at least 10% by 2003. Lt. Badel believed that they will exceed this goal in every category.

Lt. Badel reported that there were 400 to 500 DUI arrests per year during the period of 1997-2000 and approximately 650 to 700 in 2001. The grant pays for the overtime of ten officers, one sergeant, and one lieutenant to conduct DUI checkpoints from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Twenty-four checkpoints will be held over the course of two years. There are 184 DUI enforcement operations, with two officers every Friday and Saturday evening. Once each quarter there are speed, pedestrian, and bicycle enforcement operations, in addition to 20 bike rodeos, which bike officers conduct at eight schools. At DUI checkpoints from April 2001 to March 2002 there were 16,000 vehicles screened, which resulted in arrests of 99 drunk drivers and 35 arrests for other charges. DUI enforcement operations from the same time period resulted in 286 arrests of drunk drivers. Of the DUI arrests, 58% were residents of other cities. The average blood alcohol content was 0.13. Predominantly, DUI collisions occur east of Stockton Street from Lockeford to Tokay Streets.

Mayor Pennino requested statistical information related to DUI arrests by age.

Lt. Badel reviewed statistics related to pedestrian, speed, and bicycle enforcement, as well as collisions by year, month, and day. In 1996 there were six fatal collisions, none in 1997, three in 1998-1999, and one in 2000. The top three primary collision factors for 2001 were right-of-way violations, speed, and improper turning.

In reply to Council Member Land, Lt. Badel explained that the Crossroads software is used by both the Police Department and Public Works Traffic Engineering.

Council Member Howard noted that the grant expires in a year and stated that it would be beneficial to continue the additional services the Police Department has instituted.

Lt. Badel replied that if the department shows significant improvement in traffic accident rates, it is unlikely that they would be selected again if they reapplied for the grant. He reported that over the course of two years the DUI checkpoints cost approximately $84,000 with an additional $112,000 for overtime related to DUI enforcement units. The department may address this in the next budget.

Council Member Nakanishi suggested that the Police Department share this data, e.g., the location of the majority of DUI collisions, with the Eastside Improvement Committee.