Weekly Tip - STOP for School Bus Red Lights

School buses are equipped with flashing red lights that are activated by the driver when loading or unloading pupils. California law requires that drivers approaching from either side of the bus must stop and remain stopped while the red lights and stop arms are activated. The only exceptions to the law come into play when the bus is stopped on a roadway with multiple lanes and a divided highway or a raised center divider. If you are approaching from the opposite direction and on the opposite side of the road from the bus on a divided highway, you may proceed. This section, CVC 22454, also applies to private roads. (Photo courtesy of Sarasota County Sheriff)

This law was created for the safety of our students. It is imperative that drivers yield and stop for buses with red lights on. School bus drivers are required to assist pupils when crossing in front of the bus and may appear at any time. Be aware of pedestrians and watch out for darting kids!

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 21 - 27, 2016

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=8310

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 14 - 20, 2016

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=7276

Weekly Tip - How to Avoid a Parking Ticket

With school back in session, there is certainly no shortage of parking violations near the campuses. Some of the most common complaints and requests for police service near the schools are related to parking violations. In the rush to drop off a child, it is not uncommon to find parents double parking, stopping in a lane of traffic to drop off or pick up a child, parking or stopping in a red zone, parking well away from the curb because "the trash can" was in the way, blocking or impeding a resident's driveway...you name it, we see it.

Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the congestion and avoid a parking or moving citation:

•Leave a few minutes earlier and avoid the rush.

•Park a little further away and walk your child to school.

•Obey all parking regulations.

•Follow the school's traffic plan.

•Be patient.

•Keep off the phone and pay attention.

•Set the example, don't encourage unsafe or illegal behavior.

•Be courteous to the school neighbors. It is NOT OK to impede a driveway, even if only for a few minutes.

CrimeMapping is Up and Running

Our updates are complete and CrimeMapping is back up and running for Arcadia. Take a look at the site and be sure to sign up for notifications when incidents occur in your area.

DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint This Weekend

Upcoming DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint

The Arcadia Police Department will be hosting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint. The checkpoint will run from 6:00PM Friday, August 19^th through 2:00AM August 20^th.  One of the goals of our enforcement activity is to promote public safety and increase awareness of the dangers associated with drinking and driving.  This will be accomplished by providing a highly visible enforcement and publicity campaign, in order to deter intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel and driving.  Through these efforts, we also seek to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with collisions involving intoxicated drivers.

We would like to remind the public of the dangers associated with drinking and driving.  Help save a life; call 9-1-1 to report drunk drivers. It simply is not worth it to drive while impaired. 

Don’t forget to visit the Arcadia Police Department News & Information Blog or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Nixle for other pertinent news and information.  Remember, the solution begins with you! 

Funding for these operations is provided from a grant administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police

By: Kollin Cieadlo

Traffic Sergeant

Weekly Tip - Pedestrians, Crosswalks, and Right of Way

A common concern that comes to the attention of the Traffic Bureau is drivers failing to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrian actions as well as drivers actions are governed by the Vehicle Code. Drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, even when there is no marked crosswalk. Use caution when approaching a crosswalk and if you have time to safely stop, yield to the pedestrian waiting to cross. Remember, if the pedestrian has made eye contact with you, they are probably ready to cross. If the roadway is divided, allow the pedestrian to walk past the center line or median before pulling through. If it is an undivided roadway, allow the pedestrian to walk well past the half way point in the road. Always check the curbs and look to see if someone is "darting" off the curb or entering the crosswalk late. Drivers and pedestrians both need to exercise caution and courtesy. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Approach with caution and make sure the roadway and crosswalk have cleared.

Turning traffic at intersections is also dangerous for pedestrians. Even though you may have a green as a driver, you must still yield to pedestrians. Drivers making right turns must look and allow the pedestrian to step off on the green. Drivers making left turns across the intersection must make sure that not only is oncoming traffic clear, but that there are not pedestrians in the crosswalk in the path of their turn. Again, use courtesy and common sense. If the ped is well across the intersection or past the median point, you may complete your turn. If the ped is approaching you or on your side of the roadway, YIELD to them!

The DMV has a page dedicated to right of way rules regarding pedestrians, crosswalks, and other situations. Take a look for additional information.

Pedestrians outside of a crosswalk or unmarked intersection are also held responsible by the Vehicle Code. The pedestrian may only cross the road when safe to do so and must yield to traffic. The pedestrian may not cross between two signalized intersections. This is what is known as "jaywalking".

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 7 - 13, 2016

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=7243

Back to School THIS WEEK!

Arcadia schools are back in session this week: Arcadia High School on Wednesday, August 17th and the elementary/middle schools return on Thursday, August 18th. The Arcadia Unified School District calendars can be found HERE. This means we need to be aware of the children during our commutes throughout the day. Allow extra time for your drive if you pass near a school. Traffic will be heavier than normal during the first few weeks of school as parents grow accustomed to drop-off and pick-up routes for our schools. Be part of the solution, not the problem!

•Slow down!

•Allow extra time for your travel.

•Be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists.

•Don't double park or violate parking restrictions!

Seeking Public Assistance - Serious Injury Hit and Run

Incident: Serious Injury Hit and Run Traffic Collision

Date and Time of News Release: August 11, 2016 at 4 p.m.

(Actual Suspect Vehicle)

UPDATE: August 11, 2016 at 11:15 p.m.

Arcadia Detectives have located a vehicle that may possibly be related to this incident.  The vehicle has been impounded as evidence for further investigation.  The driver of the vehicle has yet to be positively identified. The vehicle was found late this evening in the City of Monterey Park.

On Thursday, August 11, 2016, at approximately 7:20 a.m., the Arcadia Police Department responded to the 600 block of W. Camino Real Avenue on a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision. Preliminary investigation revealed the suspect vehicle was traveling westbound on Camino Real Avenue when it struck a pedestrian walking westbound in the street. After colliding with the pedestrian, the vehicle stopped for a brief moment near the intersection of Camino Real Ave. and Baldwin Ave. The driver exited and walked around his vehicle, ultimately getting back into his vehicle and fleeing south on Baldwin Ave. A witness in the area provided the following description of the suspect vehicle and the driver:

Vehicle – Newer, white, 4-door, Mercedes, with Rusnak paper plates

Driver – Male, Asian, Approximately 70 years old, Gray Hair, Clean Shaven, wearing a short sleeve shirt and slacks

Paramedics from the Arcadia Fire Department responded and transported the victim, later identified as 72 year old Roop Garg of Arcadia, to Huntington Memorial Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

The cause of the collision is being investigated by the Arcadia Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5156, case #16-4233. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police

By: Sergeant Kollin Cieadlo, Traffic Bureau Sergeant 

Crime Mapping Platform Down for Updates

Our CrimeMapping platform will be down for upgrades and unavailable for approximately two weeks, starting Thursday, August 11th. We will let you know as soon as it becomes available for use.

Weekly Activity Highlights for July 31 - August 6, 2016

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=7207

Weekly Tip - School Traffic Safety

The Arcadia Police Department wants to remind our residents that students go back to school next week. Remember to allow a little extra time if your travels take you near any of the schools in Arcadia, or if you are taking your kids to school.  The Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau hopes this 2016-2017 school year will be exciting and successful. With that in mind, we would like to remind all students and parents of the shared responsibility they have in understanding and obeying traffic laws that help maintain safety in and around our school zones. For this purpose, we have provided a list of the most commonly violated traffic laws in our City’s school zones, allowing you to make a conscious and informed effort to create a safe environment for your fellow students, and or your children.

PARKING LAWS

California Vehicle Code section 21458(a) describes rules for curb markings.

1. RED Curb indicates no stopping, standing, or parking, whether the vehicle is attended or unattended, (No Student Drop Off or Pick Up in Red Zones)

2. YELLOW

Curb indicates stopping for the loading or unloading of passengers or freight (20 Minutes For Material & 3 Minutes For Passengers)

3. WHITE Curb indicates stopping for the loading or unloading of passengers (3 Minutes for Passengers)

4. GREEN Curb indicates time limit parking specified by local ordinance (24 & 30 Minute Zones)

5. BLUE Curb indicates parking limited exclusively to the vehicles of disabled persons

V.C. 22500(H) DOUBLE PARKING

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked or standing at the curb or edge of a highway (Often seen as parents drop off/pick up children in the lanes of traffic)

V.C. 22500(b) Park in Cross Walk

Prohibits the stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle in a crosswalk

V.C. 22500(e) Park in Front of Public Drive

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle in front of a public driveway

V.C. 22500(i) Bus Zone

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle alongside a curb authorized for the loading and unloading of passengers of a bus, when indicated by a sign or red paint on the curb.

V.C. 22502 Parking Over 18” from Right Hand Side of Curb / Parking on Wrong Side of Street

Every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway…shall be stopped or parked with the right hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb.

V.C. 22514 Park Near Fire Hydrant

No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. EXCEPT, If the vehicle is attended by a licensed driver who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of necessity.

Side Note—If the curb next to the fire hydrant is painted red, the vehicle stopping or parking to facilitate student pickup or drop off could still be cited for stopping/parking in a red zone

ENFORCEMENT

Officers commonly enforce parking laws in school zones by means of video enforcement. Officers may use video cameras to record violations as they occur and then mail the registered owner of the violating vehicle a citation for the observed violation. It is important to remember that the registered owner is the person receiving the citation, not the driver of the vehicle. The registered owner is responsible to resolve the citation. If parking citations are not cleared, either by dismissal or payment, the registered owner may not be able to renew their vehicle’s registration until the citation has been cleared by the DMV. Vehicles that have five or more citations on file are subject to impound, per California Vehicle Code section 22651(i)(1). The enforcement of parking restrictions and traffic laws in our school zones helps maintain vehicle and pedestrian safety, reminds drivers and pedestrians of their responsibility to share the roadway, and hopefully serves as a deterrent to prevent persons from future rule breaking.

MOVING & NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS

V.C. 22101(d) Disobey Traffic Control Devices (No Left Turn, No Turn on Red, Yield, or No U-turn Signs at an Intersection)

When official traffic control devices are placed as required in subdivision (b) or (c), it shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of such official traffic control devices

V.C. 21461(a) Failure to Obey a Posted Sign (No left turn, No U-Turn, No Student Drop Off Signs, etc)

It is unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to fail to obey a sign or signal, or to fail to obey a device erected or maintained by lawful authority of a public body or official.

V.C. 22103 No U-turn in Residential District

No person in a residential district shall make a U-turn when any other vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet, except at an intersection when the approaching vehicle is controlled by an official traffic control device.

V.C. 21950(a) Drivers Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk

The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

V.C. 21950(b) Pedestrian to Exercise Due Care

This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

V.C. 21950(c) Drivers to Exercise Due Care

The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of pedestrians

V.C. 21954(a) Pedestrians Outside of Crosswalks

Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.

V.C. 21955 Jaywalking

Pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers. (Example: Duarte Road between Santa Anita & El Monte = Jaywalking)

V.C. 21100.3 Disobey a Crossing Guard

It is unlawful for any person to disobey the traffic directions of a person appointed or authorized by local authority to regulate traffic pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 21000 when such appointee is wearing an official insignia issued by the local authority and is acting in the course of his appointed duties.

V.C. 22350 Unsafe Speed (School Zone)

When signs are posted for a “School Zone—When Children Present”, the speed limit is reduced to 25 MPH. This applies whenever children are present (Before, During & After School).

V.C. 23123(a) Talking on Cell Phone While Driving (18 + = Adult) & V.C. 23124 Cell Phone Under 18 Yrs.

Adult shall not drive a vehicle while using a wireless telephone, unless hands free. Minors may not use cell or hands free device.

V.C. 23123.5 Texting While Driving

A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communication device to write, send or read texts.

H&S 118948(a) Smoking in Vehicle

It is unlawful for a person to smoke a pipe, cigar, or cigarette in a motor vehicle, whether in motion or at rest, in which there is a minor (someone under 18 years old). For the purpose of this section, “To smoke” means to have in one’s immediate possession a lighted pipe, cigar, or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant.

SEATBELT LAWS

The driver and all occupants of a moving vehicle must properly wear safety belts, as they were designed to be worn. The shoulder strap must be worn over shoulders, not under.

V.C. 21212(a) Helmet Laws

Persons under 18 years of age must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet for bicycles, skateboards, roller

Weekly Tip - Securing Weapons in the Home

California law requires secure storage of firearms when children under 18 are likely to be present and you are in control of the premises. Definitions and exemptions can be found in Penal Code section 25100, Criminal Storage of a Firearm.

Gun safety starts at home. If weapons are present in a home, children need to be taught proper weapon handling and safety. Weapons need to be properly secured. In the event that a child finds a gun, the National Rifle Association Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program teaches children the following:

•STOP!

•Don't touch!

•Leave the area!

•Tell an adult!

There is no excuse for having an unsecured weapon in your home. Gun safes are reasonably priced and are readily available. Use of a gun safe is preferred, but many police departments offer simple gun locks for free. The Arcadia Police Department officers residents gun locks free of charge at our front counter. Check with your local agency for availability.

Weekly Activity Highlights for July 24 - 30, 2016

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=7173

Arcadia Leadership Academy

Get to Know Your City! The next City Leadership Academy starts in September, but application deadline is August 26, 2016. Take a look at the link for application, schedule, and additional information.