Despite numerous complaints about traffic enforcement in
Hollister, the police department’s year to date traffic statistics
show a reduced number of accidents and increased arrests.
Despite numerous complaints about traffic enforcement in Hollister, the police department’s year to date traffic statistics show a reduced number of accidents and increased arrests.
Even with an understaffed police department in the city, the number of speeding citations issued this year between January and April increased by 29 percent from last year, driving under the influence arrests increased 11 percent and reported traffic collisions decreased by 12.5 percent, according to Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller.
“The numbers are up and down because of the efforts of our officers, plain and simple,” Miller said. “They’re out there working hard to address the traffic problems.”
Like most other city departments, the police department will suffer budget cuts and will lose six positions, including the entire parking enforcement staff, in the coming fiscal year because of a projected $4 million deficit.
“We’re going to continue to do what we can to keep up,” Miller said. “We’re asking people out there to slow down and obey traffic rules.”
City Councilman Robert Scattini requested traffic statistics from Miller at the last City Council meeting to compare hard numbers to the amount of complaints the council hears from residents concerning traffic issues, and specifically speeding, Scattini said.
Speeders using portions of the city, such as Buena Vista, San Felipe and Clearview roads as “nothing but race tracks” require the officers to display more stringent traffic enforcement measures, Scattini said.
“I know they’re extremely busy… they don’t even have time to have lunch sometimes,” he said. “They should be applauded for what they’re doing.”
But whether the encouraging numbers are solely due to a determined core of officers remains to be seen, Scattini said.
“I hope that enforcement has a direct effect on that, or maybe we’ve just been lucky on gas being too high and people not traveling as much,” he said. “It’s probably a combination of everything.”
Either way, the statistics show the city is taking the needed actions toward solving the rampant traffic problems, said Councilman Tony LoBue.
Police enforcement, coupled with community awareness concerning traffic violations, have helped curb the problem, he said.
“People are not taking it anymore,” he said. “They’re calling police officers when they see something, and once they call, people are going to get caught.”
The city has been using tools outlined in a traffic calming study released about a year ago to help reduce accidents and violations, LoBue said.
The study provides strategies such as speed monitoring trailers that show digital readings of motorists’ speed when they pass stop signs, textured pavement to slow drivers down and speed humps, said Matt Atteberry, assistant engineer with the city of Hollister.
A temporary rubber speed hump will be installed in the next couple weeks on two areas of Clearview Drive, between Meridian Street and Hillcrest Road, where residents have voiced intense concern for their safety because of speeding cars, Atteberry said.
New radar units the police department acquired has also mitigated the problems, said Interim City Manger Clint Quilter.
“It will hopefully keep the trend of increasing traffic enforcement moving ahead,” Quilter said.
