South Tahoe chief explains traffic citations
By Brian T. Uhler
A recent concern expressed by some community members included the idea there has been an increase in the number of traffic citations issued by South Lake Tahoe police officers. Others may very well contend that our department should do more in the way of controlling unsafe drivers in our community.
This chart outlines annual citation and written warning data.
Brian T. Uhler
A few other important points include:
• When averaged among 30 field officers and sergeants, less than three citations per month were issued per officer/sergeant in 2010
• Speeding is the most frequent violation
• A mixture of productivity data such as the number of reports written, number of arrests, citations issued, and completed assignments are compiled to measure the work of our officers
• There are no special recognitions, incentive pays, or prizes of any type for any officer who write high numbers of traffic citations
• Enforcing traffic law oftentimes leads to significant arrests (example: Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVey was initially stopped for a traffic violation a short time after the bombing)
• Our officers are permitted to exercise discretion in deciding to write citations or written warnings
• Scientific studies support the contention that effective traffic enforcement lowers accident rates
• A recent news article indicated that an officer wrote 310 citations in 11 months. This included warnings and citations—more than half of which were warnings. On some occasions, this officer was assigned specifically to traffic enforcement duties.
Our officers are encouraged by supervisors and managers to use their work time productively. We realize that it is a challenge to issue a citation to a person and have them pleased with police services but we endeavor to be professional and courteous when citing people for violating traffic law.
Brian T. Uhler, is the South Lake Tahoe police chief.
I was impressed by this professional, yet personal communication from our new Police Chief. In addition, the chart he provided with this post was clear and easy to understand. Although I personally have a perfect driving record, I’m pleased to see that half of the traffic stops here have resulted in warnings instead of citations. Frankly, it appears that our local police, and Police Chief, are doing a good job and are focused on the right priorities.
How many traffic citations are issued by the Tahoe office of the CHP and Sheriffs Dept.
Why complain ? Break the law, get caught, pay the fine.
“• Enforcing traffic law oftentimes leads to significant arrests (example: Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVey was initially stopped for a traffic violation a short time after the bombing)”
So this guy supports random stops and shake downs? It is called fishing. They pull you over and start asking you questions that do not relate to the traffic stop and then they try to search your car.
Unfortunately only you can stand up for your rights. The police will ask you to do things that you can say no to, but they make it seem like ‘no’ is not an option.
Happy fishing!
The local community now feels the arm of the law, something missing for a long time.
Wow. Only 3 tickets a month. At my old agency the Chief would die.
He wanted about 15+ per month from each patrol officer. SLT is lucky.
I spent 30 years on a PD just retired a year ago.
If you have questions ask the police. We will answer your question as best we can. Please do not be afraid of us.
I’ve made comments on this site about frequent police pullovers and will say:
1. I appreciate the community outreach from the new Chief!
2. Hopefully, this is a sign of new, better mindset with the new City Mgr! Questions & concerns from the taxpayers will hopefully no longer be treated as, “None of your business!”
3. I want safe streets & roads used only by safe drivers! I want a safe community as well!
4. And I will say that for the last few years, not necessarily going way back, but for the last few years, the SLTPD has been professional & courteous.
5. However, in these budget crunching times, when the SLTPD complains about being overworked and understaffed, (Well check that, they complain about being overworked and understaffed in both flush & lean times!) many, not just myself, think we’re stopped and pulled over with a regularity inconsistent with a Dept. that alleges to be overworked!
Curiously enough, even though I would likely qualify, in most instances, as either totalitarian or rectal-cavity-esque, I’m with you on this one. In a perfect society, it would be fantastic to rely on an impartial police force protecting according to the rule of law, with a secondary safety net provided by an unemotional and unbiased justice system. Contrary to (un)popular belief, however, we live in an imperfect rule (yes, you knew that), the police are human (to err is human, to err vigorously is fuzz), and the justice system is exactly as reliable as… have you ever heard of the Edsel? (If you haven’t, it’s a typical Ford and you can understand my anti-American-engineering drift, doubtless.) We live in a system where it takes the police a half hour to show up at the site of a violent crime but only thirty seconds to electrocute an innocent bystander, where the prosecution of the innocent is a fantastic replacement motto for any room with a judge’s bench, and where adherence to a strict code of unquestioned authority is more dogma than a Papal bull (yes, it’s certainly bull of some sort, even if not quite Papal). If I question the authority of an emotional wreck wearing a badge and brandishing a firearm, I am no longer a child of the revolution, no longer an anti-totalitarian, no longer a patriot standing up for freedom. Apparently I am either a terrorist or a sympathizer.