| Motor Division |
 
The Oakdale Police Department Traffic Unit's goals are to ensure the safety and well being of the citizens of Oakdale by reducing injuries, deaths and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle collisions and to enhance citizen education and understanding of police traffic services. The Traffic Unit accomplishes these goals through proactive enforcement by responding to and investigating traffic collisions and by developing solutions to various problem traffic areas within the city. In an effort to reduce traffic collisions, accident trends are tracked and enforcement efforts are focused in those areas found to be prone to collisions. Officers enforce traffic laws aimed at reducing our collision and injury rates using vehicles equipped with radar or laser speed determining devices. All of our officers who use this equipment have completed POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training), certified courses and have been tested on their ability to accurately use it. Staffing The traffic unit is currently staffed with two traffic officers which work under the direction of the Field Operations Lieutenant. The traffic officers are assigned to patrol on a specially marked police motorcycle. The Oakdale Police Department is constantly looking for ways to increase its service to the public. Often times we can accomplish this by seeking grants to provide additional money and personnel that would otherwise be unavailable. The police department actively seeks grant funds on a continuous basis from the California Office of Traffic Safety. We have recently received a traffic safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The purpose of the grant is to reduce the number of traffic collisions, reduce the average speed of drivers to the posted speed limits, increase driver awareness and improve the overall vehicular and pedestrian safety within the City of Oakdale. We will accomplish this through education, enforcement activities, special drunk driving patrols, and by conducting DUI checkpoints. The grants have provided Oakdale with one Harley Davidson and one Honda police motorcycle.
The Speed Monitoring Awareness Radar Trailer (SMART) Trailer is a portable, self-contained speed display unit that is towed to sites experiencing speed related problems. A specially designed radar is mounted inside the locked trailer, clocking speeds. This allows motorists to see their speed displayed on a highly visible LED (light emitting diode) display. The speed limit sign above the display reminds the motorists to pay attention to the posted speed limit. As speed awareness increases, motorists in-turn, will slow down, even after the unit is moved to a different location. With fewer speed-related accidents, officers’ time is freed up, allowing them to concentrate their efforts in other areas. Additionally, residents feel safer, which is one of the goals in providing this educational tool. The trailer can also be used as a public safety message sign and to conduct speed surveys. A Special Thanks To:
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