Lompoc PD receives $30,000 grant for traffic safety enforcement

Lompoc Police is seeing a spike in traffic collisions, but a new traffic safety grant could help the agency tackle the problem.

On Friday, KCOY 12 went on a ride along with officer Leonal Garza Corporal to scout some of the problem areas. Garza says they notice a lot of bad driving near schools.

” People speeding, parking however they want, ” he said.

” The traffic accident situation is definitely getting worse, ” Lompoc driver Bonnie French said.

” To be honest, I think it’s because we don’t have traffic enforcement. We just don’t have the time, and people know that, and they drive however they want, ” said Garza.

” I can’t tell you how many times I drive on these roads and I don’t see any traffic enforcement whatsoever, ” said French.

A one-year $30,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety could help PD.

” What we’re doing is pay overtime for those officers that we already have, to come out and do traffic enforcement, ” said Garza.

Garza says the department didn’t get this grant last fiscal year, which was the first time in about a decade.

The one-year grant kicked in October 1st .

” We also have money to, through the grant, to pay for say stop sign enforcement in those areas where we have a lot of crashes, ” said Garza.

Some of those areas include North H Street near Highway 1.

” People just need to pay a little bit more attention when they’re driving, ” the officer said.

Police say the traffic collision spike also accounts for pedestrian related accidents.

They remind people to respect stop lights, and be mindful of their surroundings.

KEYT 2019