Keeping Their Eyes on the Road

The cities of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Cypress have launched the West Cities Traffic Safety Program, funded through a joint $417,648 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

With 28 miles of roadway, Los Alamitos has about 205,000 vehicles traveling through the city each day. The purpose of the program is to reduce fatal and injury traffic collisions.

In Los Alamitos, excessive speed is the major cause of those accidents, with alcohol- or drug-impaired driving a close second, authorities said.

“The program is designed to target unlicensed drivers,” Police Chief Mike McCrary said. “They’re involved in more fatal and injury traffic accidents than other drivers.”

To combat the problem, the grant will provide full salaries and benefits for motorcycle officers for Los Alamitos and Seal Beach for one year, and 50% of their salaries and benefits for a second year.

The grant also will fund 16 drunk-driving checkpoints in the three cities over two years and enable the city to purchase a radar trailer. “Previously we used an old patrol car,” McCrary said.

McCrary said the goals of the radar trailer and checkpoints are to reduce speeding by 10%, alcohol-related accidents by 10%, hit-and-run accidents by 25% and nighttime accidents by 20%. He also hopes to increase child safety seat and seat-belt use.

The City Council this week approved a $160 release fee for impounded vehicles to help fund the city’s traffic safety program. The state requires a minimum $100 release fee, but McCrary said the fee reflects the actual cost to the city.

McCrary said the street that will receive primary focus will be Katella Avenue, especially considering that Los Alamitos Racetrack receives 750,000 visitors per year.

“Why aren’t there more tickets given to speeders on Katella?” asked Councilwoman Marilynn M. Poe. “This is No. 2 on the complaints I get from residents.

“You could sit at Katella and Los Alamitos [Blvd.] and write numerous tickets,” Poe told McCrary. “And I must admit, I might be the first to get one.”

“We will also be tracking in and around schools,” McCrary said.

Los Alamitos has seven schools with about 6,000 students, all of whom can be affected by dangerous drivers, McCrary said. “There will be a great deal of time spent at schools.”

Chris Ceballos can be reached at (714) 966-7440