The Traffic Unit of the Visalia Police Department might be the most misunderstood unit on the force. It is often the most visible as well, and usually when we don’t want to see them. This may explain the harsh perceptions about traffic patrol: Unyielding officers cracking down on drivers; motorcycle cops poised behind a blind turn or a street sign, waiting to nab speeders; officers more concerned about busting an unsuspecting driver than ensuring the safety of our streets. But, there is much more to the Traffic Unit than handing out tickets.

Sergeant Brian Winter of the Visalia Police Department says the Traffic Unit’s main focus is to “ensure the safety of the public by enforcing rules … in an attempt to reduce the number and severity of traffic collisions, and to educate the public regarding traffic laws and general driver safety.”

Since July 2008, there have been nearly 2,400 traffic collisions in Visalia. That’s nearly seven accidents every day. In that same year span, the Traffic Unit has issued over 13,000 citations—more than 250 per week. The Traffic Unit’s focus is reducing the number of accidents by enforcing traffic laws, and Winter says there is a direct correlation between citations and accident reduction.

Issuing citations “results in a reduction of the number of injury collisions,” Winter says.

It may seem that traffic officers issue a lot of citations, which contributes to the impression that the traffic patrol is “out to get” motorists. Sgt. Winter has heard all the misconceptions: That the police are required to meet a citation quota, that they care more about ticketing than keeping the streets safe, and that the department gets extra money by ticketing drivers.

Where the Money Goes

This is simply not true, Winter says. If an officer writes a “fix-it-ticket” (for infractions like illegally tinted windows, brake lights being out, or expired registration), a $13 administrative fee goes to the police department. However, for the more costly citations such as speeding or running a red light, fees go everywhere but the police department.

“A small amount of the base fine goes to the City of Visalia general fund,” Winter says, but “the law allows several additional fees to be imposed … including a state fee, county fee, security fee, and conviction assessment fee.”

These extra fees can add up quickly. “The base fine for a moving violation may only be $100,” Winter says, “but when additional fees are added, the citation may cost over $400. And none of the additional fees go to the police department.”

Although traffic citations generate money, the police department doesn’t receive any of it. So traffic officers are not motivated by quotas or money to issue more citations. The motivation, Winter says, is keeping the streets safe.

Safety on the Roads

One important way the Traffic Unit ensures safety on the roads is through DUI checkpoints. Agent James Andrews of the Visalia Police Department Traffic Unit explains that DUI checkpoints are essential to “reduce the number of DUI-related injuries from collisions.” Most importantly, Andrews says, “DUI checkpoints raise awareness and educate drivers while holding accountable those that drink and drive.”

The checkpoints are often set up at sites around Visalia, depending on factors such as collision history, vehicle volume, and suitability of the location. And as with issuing citations, the goal is not to catch as many drivers as possible. If fewer drunk drivers are out on the road, there will be fewer drivers to catch.

All of which points back to the Traffic Unit’s ultimate goal: To educate drivers so that enforcement becomes less of the focus. Education is crucial to cutting down on the number of accidents.

“The Traffic Unit uses many ways to educate the public,” Andrews says, “including press releases, media advisories, and articles outlining new traffic laws and traffic safety tips.” The Traffic Unit often visits and makes presentations to local high schools, driver’s education classes, and transportation professionals, all with the goal of making drivers more aware and intelligent on the road.”

Focus on Education

Additionally, the Visalia Police Department educates people from an early age so that children have a foundation of safe practices. The two most popular education programs for elementary schools are Traffic Town and the Bicycle Rodeo.

Although these children are not yet of driving age, it is still important to teach them how to safely navigate through the city, Andrews says. “Traffic Town utilizes a realistic cardboard city with traffic control lights for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Participants are led through the city and presented with scenarios that teach them basic pedestrian safety.”

At the Bicycle Rodeo, children can have their bicycles checked for safety by an officer, and the Jeff Barnes Brain Injury Foundation provides helmets to children who don’t have proper protection. “The children are then taught basic hand signals,” Andrews says, “and are sent through various cone patterns, which hone their riding skills.”

The Traffic Unit’s dedication to safety on the streets does not end with enforcement and education, either. According to Agent Andrews, the Traffic Unit also “assists the city’s engineering department in identifying locations with traffic problems, and offers ideas for fixing the problem.”

The Visalia Police Department Traffic Unit does more than issue citations. There is a genuine desire to keep the roads safe for drivers and pedestrians. And the relationship between drivers and the traffic patrol need not be adversarial. Rather, the Traffic Unit prefers to work in collaboration with the public. It does its part by educating the public and enforcing traffic laws. We do ours by obeying these laws.

For instance, one of the most overlooked traffic violations that the Traffic Unit is trying to eliminate is wearing a seatbelt improperly. “Officers frequently see drivers wearing their seatbelts improperly,” Andrews says. “Seatbelts must be worn properly, which includes wearing both lap belts and shoulder harnesses in the correct locations across the body.”

Traffic officers will not pull you over if you haven’t done anything wrong. By following the rules of the road, you will be able to accomplish two things: you will avoid a citation and you will help the Traffic Unit keep the roads safe.

Traffic safety is the real goal, for both the traffic patrol and drivers on the road. We all want to get home safe. The Traffic Unit works hard every day to ensure that we all do just that.

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