Increased Traffic Patrols to Begin

In an attempt to reduce the city’s accident rate by 25%, Moorpark authorities will start a program today expected to increase traffic patrols on New Los Angeles Avenue.

The additional enforcement is part of a larger program to increase safety on the 18-mile stretch of California 118 from Moorpark to Saticoy.

The program, funded through the end of the year, is sponsored by the state Office of Traffic Safety, which gave the California Highway Patrol an $89,368 corridor safety grant--$16,198 of which will be spent by Moorpark, which contracts police services from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

To identify problems on California 118, the OTS formed a task force headed by Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels.

The task force, which includes officials from the Moorpark Unified School District, state Department of Transportation, city and Ventura County Transportation Commission, met in December and will meet twice more this year.

Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Lewis of the Moorpark station said it will beef up patrols during peak traffic hours and holidays typically associated with high accident rates, including the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. He said the grant will pay for overtime for patrol officers.

Traffic officials will be targeting moving violations, defective vehicle equipment and pedestrians illegally crossing the street, Lewis said. In addition, he said, officials will ticket big rigs that have mechanical problems.