LAPD to Switch 40 Officers From Patrol to Traffic

Less than a week after a report detailed dangers at Los Angeles’ most accident-prone intersections, LAPD officials announced Tuesday they will beef up enforcement of traffic laws, switching 40 officers from patrol to that task.

Hours earlier, a panel of the Los Angeles City Council called for the LAPD to double its force of 257 motorcycle officers to help cut down on accidents.

The expanded enforcement staff will be expected to concentrate on the dangerous intersections starting July 1, said LAPD Cmdr. David Kalish.

“In response to concerns about dangerous intersections and general complaints from the public about traffic safety, we have placed a greater emphasis on enforcement,” Kalish said.

The transfer comes a year after Chief Bernard Parks ordered patrol officers to spend more time enforcing traffic laws.

The result was an increase in tickets issued last year to 575,000 from 400,000 the year before, Kalish said.

Last week’s report by the city Transportation Department stated that traffic accidents increased 4% from 1997 to 1999, reversing a previous downward trend.

Responding to that report, the council’s Transportation Committee voted 3 to 0 to recommend that the department double the number of motorcycle officers devoted to traffic enforcement.

“When there have been about 2,800 pedestrian accidents in 1999 with 60 fatalities, I believe we have to take extra steps to try to ensure pedestrian safety in Los Angeles,” said Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr., the committee’s chairman. “The best way to do that is to increase the deployment of motorcycle officers.”

The Times reported Saturday that the city has identified the 19 intersections with the most accidents during the 12 months ending July 31, 1999, including eight in the San Fernando Valley.

In a report considered by the council panel Tuesday, the Transportation Department proposed a list of projects, including installation of left-turn signals and adjustments of signal timing to make them safer. The cost could reach $300,000.

Councilman Hal Bernson said much of the cost of adding 257 motorcycle officers could be recovered from traffic ticket fines.

“It’s going to cost us a little,” Bernson said. “But it is going to save us a lot in the way of lives and accidents.”

The council proposal faces some potentially great obstacles, including its cost of about $20 million, which is not included in the current budget.

Kalish said motorcycles are expensive, the department would have to hire more mechanics, and motorcycle officers get a 5.5% hazard pay bonus.

Bernson, whose northwest Valley district includes the Northridge corner cited as the Valley’s most accident-prone intersection, said he may seek to amend the budget to provide additional funds for motorcycle officers if the LAPD does not find another way to double the number with existing resources.

The number of motorcycle officers has held at 257 since 1992. In all, there are about 650 officers assigned to the Traffic Division.

The committee also asked for a report on how much the engineering fixes will cost and how they will avoid being caught in the three-year backlog. Depending on the engineering fix proposed, the cost could be up to $30,000 for an intersection, but the department believes 39 targeted intersections can be made safer for a total of about $300,000 if the city relies heavily on in-house staff, said John Fisher of the city Transportation Department.

Fisher said his goal would be to complete projects on the 19 most accident prone intersections during the next fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2001.

“We plan to push aside some of the other projects,” Fisher said. “Safety comes first.”

The three worst intersections in Los Angeles in terms of accidents for the year-long period ending July 31, 1999, are Adams Boulevard and La Brea Avenue in the Mid-City area, which had 28 crashes; Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, which had 24 wrecks, and Parthenia Street and Reseda Boulevard in Northridge, which had 22 crashes.